I  III II 111  II III II 


[*     JUN241910      *J 


•06/CAL  st^ 


^ 


BX  8935  .S77  1909 
Stringfield,  E.  E.  b.  1863 
Presbyterianism  in  the 
Ozarks 


Presbyterianism  in 
the  Ozarks 

A  History  of  the  Work  of  the  Various  'Branches  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Southwest  Missouri 

1834-1907    x^snnfe 

JUN  241910 

BY ^^fV)  r"""***vr»~'     a<J 

E.  E.  SPRINGFIELD,  Ph.  D. 

Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark,  U.  S.  A. 

MAP  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Introduction  by  John  B.  Hill,  D.  D.  with  an  Appendix  con- 
taining Occasional  Addresses 

Published  at  the  request  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark,  U.  S.  A. 

1909 


DEDICATED    TO 
"A    wife    as   tender    and    as    true    withal 
As  the  first   woman   was  before   t lie   Pall." 


PREFACE 


Three  years  ago  today  I  began  the  preparation  of  this  work. 
My  original  purpose  was  to  make  it  a  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  U.  S.  A.  within  the  confines  of  Ozark  Presbytery.  As  I 
proceeded  the  purpose  was  enlarged.  The  Assemblies  had  re- 
cently declared  that  the  vote  on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian 
and  Cumberland  Churches  had  carried.  Why  not  give  an  ac- 
count of  all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  planted  in  this 
region,  and  make  this  in  some  sense  a  memorial  of  the  Reunion? 
The  larger  and  worthier  vision  was  accompanied  with  doubts 
and  fears — doubts  as  to  my  sufficiency  for  the  task — fears  as  to 
whether  the  reception  of  the  book  would  be  favorable  enough  to 
insure  its  publication  without  financial  loss.  Such  a  work  is  of 
necessity  largely  local  in  interest  and  appeals  to  a  constituency 
that  is  circumscribed  even  within  the  locality.  I  had  not  made 
much  progress  in  the  gathering  of  materials  when  I  decided  to 
appeal  to  Ozark  Presbytery  for  advice.  The  minutes  of  the  Pres- 
bytery for  September,  1906,  contain  these  references: 

"Rev.  E.  E.  Stingfield,  chairman,  presented  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Presbyterian  History.  The  report  presented  the 
outlines  of  a  plan  for  the  publication  of  a  history  of  the  Pres- 
bytery or  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri  and  that  part 
of  Arkansas  embraced  in  Ozark  Presbytery.  The  report  was  re- 
ferred to  a  special  committee  consisting  of  Revs.  J.  P.  Shepherd, 

Ph.  D.,  D.  B.  Whimster,  and  E.  E.  Stringfield. 

##  ######## 

The  special  committee  on  Church  History  presented  its  re- 
port through  its  chairman,  Rev.  J.  F.  Shepherd,  Ph.  D.  The  re- 
port was  received  and  the  following  recommendations  adopted: 

(1)  That  the  Stated  Clerk  undertake  the  publication  of  a 
history  of  Presbyterianism  within  our  bounds  so  soon  as  he  shall 
have  assurance  from  our  pastors  and  sessions  that  such  a  ven- 


4  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

ture  is  financially  safe,  and  that  he  be  advised  to  associate  with 
him  such  help  as  he  may  need. 

(2)  That  the  work  be  embellished  with  cuts  of  those 
pioneers  of  the  ministry  who  have  wrought  most  successfully  in 
the  past,  our  educational  institutions,  etc. 

(3)  That  each  church  within  our  bounds  ascertain,  through 
its  pastor  and  session,  at  a  very  early  date,  the  number  of  copies 
that  may  be  sold  at  a  cost  of  $1.00  each,  it  being  understood  that 
each  fifteen  copies  taken  by  a  church  shall  entitle  that  church  to 
have  published  a  cut  of  the  church  building,  or  of  the  present 
pastor,  or  a  former  pastor,  the  church  to  furnish  the  cut. 

A  number  of  the  brethren  promised  substantial  encourage- 
ment and  the  project  was  resumed.  Rev.  J.  T.  Bacon  agreed  to 
prepare  the  part  devoted  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church 
and  1  was  to  write  the  rest  and  to  have  charge  of  the  business 
part  of  the  venture.  For  various  reasons  Mr.  Bacon  was  unable 
to  perform  his  part  of  the  task  and  as  no  one  else  could  be  found 
who  would  undertake  it,  this  part  of  the  work  also  devolved 
upon  me.  Meantime  the  duties  of  my  parish,  the  Stated  Clerk- 
ship of  the  Presbytery,  and  the  chairmanship  of  the  Committee 
on  Home  Missions  left  little  time  for  the  arduous  task  of  gather- 
ing material  and  moulding  it  into  literary  form.  The  spare  and 
stolen  moments  of  about  two  and  a  half  years  were  occupied  in 
the  preparation  of  that  part  of  the  volume  devoted  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  U.  S.  A.  Friends  who  had  anxiously  awaited 
tlie  issue  were  beginning  to  wonder  if  the  book  would  be  pub- 
lished before  The  Great  Day.  Then  in  order  that  the  Cumber- 
land Church  might  be  fairly  well  presented  I  had  to  explore 
what  was  almost  a  terra  incognita.  It  was  out  of  the  question 
to  attempt  to  make  this  part  of  the  book  as  complete  as  the  first 
part.  I  was  not  so  familiar  with  the  scenes  and  the  actors.  A 
considerable  portion  of  the  records  was  in  the  hands  of  those 
who  were  in  no  humor  to  give  me  access  thereto.  The  churches 
organized  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  and  the  ministers 
who  have  served  them  have  been  so  numerous  that  an  attempt  to 
mention  and  sketch  them  one  by  one  would  have  been  a  life-time 
task  and  even  then  would  have  been  unsatisfactory  because  of 
the  impossibility  of  gathering  sufficient  data.     I  have  contented 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  5 

myself  therefore  with  giving  the  outlines  of  the  labors  of  this 
branch  of  the  church  with  comparatively  few  sketches  of 
churches,  ministers  and  laymen.  My  research  in  this  line  has 
been  so  interesting  and  has  heightened  my  sense  of  kinship  with 
Cumberland  Presbyterianism  to  such  an  extent  that  upon  re-- 
flection  I  concluded  that  I  must  have  been  born  within  the  pale 
of  that  church.  Such  is  the  fact  though  it  never  dawned  upon 
me  before.  My  parents  were  Old  School  Presbyterians.  But  for 
a  time  before  and  after  my  birth  they  were  members  of  the  Cum- 
berland Church  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  church  of  their 
choice  was  not  accessible.  And  I  was  baptized  in  infancy  by  a 
Cumberland  minister !  The  other  branches  of  Presbyterianism 
have  not  worked  extensively  in  Southwest  Missouri.  The  ac- 
count of  their  work  is  correspondingly  brief.  No  attempt  has 
been  made  to  give  any  of  the  work  in  Arkansas  save  that  carried 
on  by  Ozark  Presbytery  U.  S.  A. 

And  now  the  manuscript  is  all  but  ready  for  the  printer. 
This  book  is  the  offspring  of  my  brain  and  heart  and  I  think  I 
shall  contemplate  it  with  something  of  the  affection  a  mother 
feels  when  her  eyes  fall  for  the  first  time  upon  the  face  of  her 
first  born.  I  am  not  conscious  of  having  followed  strictly  any 
known  rules  for  the  making  of  a  history,  and  I  have  not  main- 
tained a  uniform  standard  of  literary  form.  The  work  was  not 
written  consecutively.  Sometimes  weeks  or  months  would 
elapse  in  which  I  made  not  the  stroke  of  a  pen.  Sometimes  I 
wrote  when  too  weary  to  do  the  best  work.  When  I  gathered 
the  material  for  a  sketch  of  a  Presbytery,  a  minister,  layman  or 
church,  I  prepared  that  part  without  regard  to  whether  that 
which  should  go  before  was  prepared  or  not.  Then  I  attempted 
to  place  the  prepared  material  in  its  proper  place — not  always 
it  must  be  confessed  do  the  parts  fit  the  precision  with  which  the 
timbers  and  stones  of  Solomon's  Temple  filled  their  places, 
when  the  sketch  of  a  pastor,  for  instance,  was  writ- 
ten six  months  before  or  after  the  sketch  of  the  church  he 
served,  it  was  inevitable  that  there  should  be  a  repetition  of  some 
material  facts — and  when  struggling  and  defunct  churches  were 
sketched  in  similar  lapses  of  time  it  is  natural  that  forms  of  ex- 
pression would  unconsciously  become  stereotyped.  But  I  have 
endeavored  to  make  the  work  accurate,  candid  and  fair ;  to  make 


6  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  sketches  of  ministers  and  laymen  so  life-like  that  their  cir- 
cle of  friends  will  take  interest  in  the  book.  And  I  have  cher- 
ished the  hope  that  these  sketches  and  the  addresses  in  the  Ap- 
pendix will  give  to  the  work  something  more  than  a  local  inter- 
est. If  the  reader  pursues  this  volume  with  a  lithe  of  the  inter- 
est which  the  writer  has  felt  in  its  preparation,  he  will  feel 
amply  repaid  for  paying  the  price  thereof. 

E.  E.  STRINGFIELD. 
Springfield,  Mo.,  July  10th3  1909. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

CONTENTS 


BOOK  I. 


Introduction  by  Rev.  John  B.  Hill,  D.  D _...._ 9 

Preliminary  Word  11 

Chapter  I.     Confluent  Streams  that  Sink  to  Rise  in  Rills 16 

Chapter  II.     The  Rise  of  the  Rills 35 

Chapter  III.  Ozark  Presbytery  U.  S.  A.  1870-1907,  (with 
an  account  of  the  reorganization  in  1907  and  the  or- 
ganization of  Carthage  Presbytery) 41 

Chapter  IV.     Woman's   Presbyterial    Society 75 

Chapter   V.     Educational    Interests 80 

Chapter  VI.     Some  Presbyterial  Statistics 84 

Chapter  VII.     Chronological  Register  and  Sketches  of  the 

Churches 117 

Chapter  VIII.     Sketches  of  Ministers 183 

Chapter  IX.     Etchings  from  the  Pews 274 

BOOK  II. 

Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri 

Chapter  I.     The  First  Presbytery 290 

Chapter  II.     Amicable  Divisions  Incident  to  Enlargement 305 

Chapter  III.     The  Destruction  that  Wasteth  at  Noon  Day 

Reconstruction 314 

Chapter   IV.     Homeward    Bound 320 

Chapter  V.     Historic  Churches 334 

Chapter  VI.     Sketches  of  Ministers  and  Elders 340 

Chapter  VII.     In   Silhouette 370 

Chapter  VIII.     Other  Presbyterian  Bodies 379 

Chapter  IX.     Colored  Cumberland  Presbyterianism 383 

APPENDIX 

I.  The  Men  and  Times  of  the  Westminster  Assembly 385 

II.  Forefathers '    Day   Address 392 

III.  Two  Hundred  Years  of  Organized  Presbyterianism 397 

IV.  Presbyterian  Reunions  i 405 

V.  Presbyterianism ;    Its   Affinities 416 

VI.  Pulpit  and  Pew  in  Perspective 429 


ION  OF 

PFlN  S.W.  MO. 


TOM 


?  /  f/'/ne  of  union  y/ven) 


MAP    SHOWING  THE  LOCATION  of 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCHES  IN  5.W.  MO. 

DRAWN  BY  H£RSCH£L  H  SAMPSON. 

£xf/ficf  c /torches  are  p/acea'in  brackets'-  .  ,  ,  ,       ■ 

Cumber/a/it/  churches  4 re  market/   C-  (On/y  those  in  ex/stence  a  r f/fne  of union  j>/ven) 
•Southern  Pres^y/er/an,  US.  (Those  /ft  ex/stence  inlSOS  a/one  arc  a/ven) 
Untfea'  Pre^pyterianM/^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


Doctor  Stringfield  has  written  a  valuable  and  a  readable  his- 
tory. It  treats  of  a  period,  a  territory  and  a  branch  of  the  church 
well  worthy  of  lasting  remembrance  in  the  annals  of  American 
Home  Missions.  Following  no  precedent  as  to  contents,  arrange- 
ment or  literary  style,  his  work  is  stamped  throughout  with  his 
own  originality  and  independence.  Even  where  other  writers 
had  preceded  him,  from  whom  he  could  and  very  properly  did 
quote  extensively,  he  did  not  accept  their  statements  without 
personal  verification  from  original  sources,  wherever  possible. 
How  difficult  the  task  the  Doctor  set  before  himself,  and  persist- 
ently pursued  until  its  completion,  none  can  fully  realize  that 
has  not  been  through  a  similar  experience.  No  one  could  ever 
have  succeeded  as  well  as  he  has  done  without  a  love  for  the  truth 
and  a  desire  for  its  dissemination. 

The  joy  that  comes  to  the  historian  is  like  that  that  comes 
to  the  student  of  mathematics  in  the  solution  of  a  difficult  prob- 
lem or  to  any  earnest  soul  in  the  achievement  of  a  laudable  ambi- 
tion. The  history  one  writes  thus  becomes  a  part  of  himself,  and 
never  more  so  than  when  it  tells  of  events  in  which  he  himself 
has  had  a  real  participation  as  well  as  an  interest.  The  writer's 
enthusiasm  is  then  shared  by  his  reader.  It  is  especially  re- 
freshing when  he  dares  to  use  the  first  pronoun,  if.  as  in  this 
case,  he  ahvays  uses  it  modestly. 

The  preparation  of  every  history  is  largely  a  work  of  love. 
Its  publication  is  seldom  remunerative.  For  this  particular  book 
there  has  been  a  list  of  advance  subscribers  sufficiently  lar<je  to 
relieve  the  author  of  the  cost  of  publication.  Those  eager  sub- 
scribers will  not  be  disappointed  when  they  have  a  chance  to 
read  the  work;  but  this  history  will  be  almost  a  failure  if  it  does 
not  secure  such  a  reading  as  to  produce  results  in  its  readers. 
It  is  fitted  to  give  every  reader  a  perspective  by  which  to  judge 
present-day  positions  and  tendencies,  and  also  to  inspire  many  n 
reader,  especially  among  the  ministers,  to  try  to  make  similar 
contributions  to  local  history.  God's  hand  is  shaping  modern 
history  as  truly  as  it  ever  shaped  the  past.  If  it  is  ours  to  recog- 
nize His  providence,  it  should  be  ours  to  help  others  to  a  similar 
recognition. 

Hearty  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  Stringfield  for  coming  to  us 
after  the  manner  of  Asaph  of  old,  saying:  "(live  ear.  0  my 
people.  *  *  *  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  parable;  I  will  utter 
dark  savings  of  old;  which  we  have  heard  and  known  and  our 


io  Presbyterianism  i\  the  Ozarks 

fathers  have  idld  us.  We  will  not  hide  them  from  their  chil- 
dren, showing  to  the  generation  to  come  the  praises  of  the  Lord 
;iikI  His  strength  and  His  wonderful  works  that  lie  hath  done. 
For  He  hath  established  a  testimony  in  Jacob,  and  appointed 
a  law  in  Israel,  which  He  commanded  our  lathers  that  they 
should  make  them  known  to  their  children;  that  the  generation 
to  come  might  know  them,  even  the  children  which  should  be 
horn,  who  should  arise  and  declare  them  to  their  children,  that 
they  mighl  set  their  hope  in  God,  and  not  forget  the  works  of 
God,  hut  keep  His  commandments."  (Ps.  78:1-7.)  In  fact,  the 
Doctor-  has  made  himself  one  of  the  Church  Fathers,  to  be  con- 
sulted by  present  and  future  generations  of  godly  parents  and 
church  officers  who  desire  to  act  in '  accordance  with  the  com- 
mand of  Moses,  when  he  said:  "Remember  the  days  of  old, 
consider  the  years  of  many  generations:  ask  thy  father  and  he 
will  shew  thee;  thy  elders  and  they  will  tell  thee."  (Dt.  32:7.) 
Rising  from  the  reading  of  his  book,  we  can  but  "call  to  remem- 
brance the  former  days"  (Heb.  10:32).  and  thank  the  Lord, 
saying:  "We  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God,  our  fathers 
have  told  us  what  work  Thou  didst  in  their  days  in  times  of  old: 
how  Thou  didst  drive  out  the  heathen  with  Thy  hand,  and  plant- 
edst  them."  (Ps.  44:1-2.)  We  can  but  say  also,  with  still  an- 
other Psalmist:  "If  I  forget  thee,  0  Jerusalem,  let  my  right 
hand  forget  her  cunning.  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my 
tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  if  I  prefer  not  Jerusalem 
above  my  chief  joy."     (Ps.  137:5-6.) 

JOHN  B.  HILL. 
Kansas  City,   Mo.,  July  1.  1909. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  II 


PRELIMINARY  WORD. 


I  purpose  to  write  a  history  of  Presbyterianism  within  the 
confines  of  the  first  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  U.  S.  A.  I  shall  men- 
tion in  detail  the  beginnings  of  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest 
Missouri,  dwelling  particularly  upon  the  origin  and  fortune  of 
the  charter  churches  of  the  Presbytery,  and  I  shall  present  pen 
and  picture  sketches  of  the  men  who  laid  the  foundations  on 
which  we  are  building  as  well  as  of  those  who  have  reared  the 
superstructure.  I  believe  with  our  fathers  "that  truth  is  in 
order  to  goodness ;  and  the  great  touchstone  of  truth,  its  tend- 
ency to  promote  holiness,  according  to  our  Saviour's  rule  'by 
their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them.'  "  Yet  all  historical  truths 
are  not  alike  agreeable  or  profitable.  And  since  facts  are  so 
numerous  that  if  "They  should  be  written  every  one  I  suppose 
that  even  the  world  itself  could  not  contain  the  books  that  should 
be  written,"  I  shall  select  for  narration  those  which  bear  upon 
a  purpose — to  be  discovered  by  the  "gentle  reader."  Leaving 
to  the  magazine  writers  the  pastime  of  muck-raking.  I  shall  dwell 
upon  disagreeable  facts  only  in  so  far  as  they  point  a  moral  or 
are  essential  to  the  story,  for  the  things  that  are  lovely  and  of 
good  report  have  not  received  the  attention  they  deserve. 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  had  its  birth  in  the  throes  of  the 
readjustments  incident  to  the  union  of  the  Old  and  New  School 
churches.  It  is  the  lineal  heir  of  the  Old  School  Presbytery  of 
Southwest  Missouri  and  inherited  a  small  part  of  the  fame  and 
fortunes  of  the  New  School  Presbytery  of  Osage.  In  the  year 
of  grace  1906  it  confronted  new  readjustments  incident  to  an- 
other union  that  materially  changed  its  territory  and  constit- 
uency. The  reunited  church  inherits  from  the  Cumberland  wing 
another  Presbytery  of  Ozark  which  covers  only  a  small  part  of 
the  territory  occupied  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  V.  S.  A.  Lest 
some  thirtieth  century  "redactor"  should  overlook  this  fact.  I 
pause  to  record  the  names  of  the  ministers  and  churches  and  to 
mark  the  boundaries  of  the  first  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  U.  S.  A., 


12  PRESBYTERIANISM    IN    THE   OZARKS 

at   the  time  when  the  General   Assemblies  of  1906  declared  the 
union  effective: 

MINISTERS  ADDRESS  Churches  Membership 

Balthasar  Hoffman,    II.    R    .  Webb   City,    Mo 

rilny    S.    Smith Amsterdam,     Mo 

George    II.    Williamson,    P.    E    Monett,     Mo ..Monett    143 

Leonidas  J.    Matthews,    II.    K Houston,    Mo 

Edward    J.    Nugent Mammoth    Spring,    Ark... 

David   Bell    Whimster,    S.    S West    Plains,    Mo West     Plains  93 

Charles  EC.  Mitchelmore,   S.   S        ...Springfield,    Mo Evans    8 

'and    assistant    pastor    of 
Calvary ) 

George    M.    Bonner     (colored)  Springfield,     Mo 

William    L.    Hackett Springfield,     Mo Occasionally    Supplying 

(Pastor   at  Large)  Crane 12 

Mt.     Zion 72 

Willard     17 

Lockwood  ">7 

White    Oak 30 

Benjamin    F.    Logan,    S.    S Jasper,    Mo Salem    ::t 

Grace    28 

John    R.    Trett '. Franklin,     Ark 

Nathanael    Chestnut,     P Eureka    Springs,    Ark Eureka     Springs 97 

George    B.    Sproule,    S.    S Alba,     Mo Preston    24 

Madison    17 

Alba,     an    unorganized 
work. 

John    F.    Shepherd,    Ph.    D.    D.    D Webb    City,    Mo Webb     City 17". 

Jacob    F.    Scherer,    S.    S Willow    Springs,    Mo Supplying    a     Cumberland 

Church 
Burnham    56 

James     H.     Glanville,     P Bolivar,     Mo -Bolivar    77 

Fair    Play ."! 22 

Eugene   E.  Stringfield,    Ph.   D.   P Springfield,     Mo Springfield,    Second 160 

Benjamin    M.    Shive,    D.    D.   P Joplin,     Mo Joplin    First 431 

Henry     Little,     P Springfield,     Mo Calvary    547 

Benjamin    L.    Stuart,    S.    S Neosho,     Mo Neosho    139 

Wilbur     F.     Grundy Fayetteville,     Ark _ 

(Sabbath     School    Missionary) 

Edward    L.    Renick    Springfield,     Mo 

(Sabbath    School     Missionary) 

Simpson   V.    Sydenstricker,    Stu Cincinnati,     Ohio 

Huston    Taylor,    P Carthage,     Mo i Carthage     First 504 

Robert    L.    Kinnaird,    S.    S Joplin,     Mo Bethany     (Joplin) 91 

Aliram     Nelson    Wylie,     P Ravenden    Springs,    Ark..Ravenden     Springs 26 

Stations 

The    following   churches    were    supplied    by    Cumberland  Ebenezer     (Greenfield) 92 

Presbyterian     ministers Mt.    Vernon 42 

Ozark    Prairie 69 

Irwin     31 

Fordland    24 

Conway    52 

And    the    following    churches    were    vacant Buffalo 18 

Ash    Grove 56 

Waldensian    54 

Seneca     22 

Harrison     (  Ark) 27 

Lehigh     14 

Harris     (Ark) 1 

Stockton     8 

Mammoth     Spring     I  Ark)  ..12 

Mt.     Olivet     (Ark) 1"8 

Bethel    (Ark) 13 

Trace    Valley    (Ark) 12 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  13 

These  forty-two  churches  are  widely  scattered  over  South- 
west Missouri  and  a  large  part  of  Arkansas.  In  Missouri  the 
Presbytery  embraced  twenty-three  counties,  with  the  exceptions 
that  Kansas  City  Presbytery  had  jurisdiction'  in  that  part  of 
Camden  County  lying  north  of  the  Osage  River  and  the  north- 
west corner  of  Cedar  County.  The  counties  are  as  follows : 
Barton.  Jasper,  Newton,  McDonald,  Barry,  Lawrence,  Dade. 
Cedar,  Hickory,  Polk,  Greene,  Christian,  Stone,  Taney,  Ozark, 
Douglas,  Webster,  Dallas,  Camden,  Laclede,  Wright,  Texas  and 
Howell.  In  early  days  Vernon  County  belonged  to  the  Presby- 
tery, but  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City.  The 
boundaries  of  the  Presbyteries  in  Arkansas  were  laid  by  a  frac- 
ture of  the  then  extant  law  of  the  church  as  to  "elective  affinity 
courts."    In  1898  they  were  defined  as  follows: 

"The  Presbytery  of  White  River  *  *  originally  embraced  17  counties 
in  Southeastern  Arkansas  (according  to  the  report  of  the  Commission;  20 
counties  according  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  White  River  Presbytery;  21  coun- 
ties according  to  the  map.)  'Since  then,'  says  the  Stated  Clerk,  'we  have 
extended  our  boundaries  so  as  to  include  the  whole  state. '  None  of  these 
extensions  have  been  authorized,  approved,  or  disapproved  by  the  Synod  of 
Missouri.  White  River  Presbytery  is  composed  of  Freedmen.  No  jurisdic- 
diction  has  ever  been  exercised  by  that  Presbytery  over  the  White  churches 
in  Arkansas.  At  least  the  following  churches  in  Arkansas  belong  to  other 
Presbyteries  than  that  of  White  River,  viz: 

Eureka  Springs  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  Synod  of  Missouri.  Jones- 
boro,  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis,  Synod  of  Missouri.  Ridge  Station  to 
the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis,  Synod  of  Missouri.  Hot  Springs  First  to  the 
Presbytery  of  St.  Louis,  Synod  of  Missouri.  Mena  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Choctaw,  Synod  of  Indian  Territory.  *  *  *  Inasmuch  as  none  of  the  exten- 
sions of  the  original  boundaries  of  White  River  Presbytery  have  been 
sanctioned  by  Synod,  and  those  churches  in  Arkansas  not  belonging  to  White 
River  Presbytery  were  organized  by  the  Presbyteries  to  which  they  now 
belong,  and  with  which  they  are  in  direct  rail  road  connection,  the  follow- 
ing readjustment  of  Presbyterial  lines  is  recommended:  1.  White  River 
Presbytery  shall  consist  of  all  those  ministers  and  churches  situated  in  the 
State  of  Arkansas  south  and  east  of  a  line  drawn  on  the  north  and  west 
lines  of  the  following  counties,  to-wit:  Sevier,  Howard,  Pike,  Clark,  Dallas, 
Grant,  Jefferson,  Pulaski,  Conway,  Faulkner,  White,  Jackson,  Poinsett,  and 
Mississippi. 

2.  The  Arkansas  counties  of  Benton,  Carroll,  Boone,  Marion,  Baxter, 
Fulton,  Izard,  Stone,  Searcy,  Newton,  Madison,  Washington,  Crawford,  Se- 
bastian, Franklin  and  Johnson  shall  be  annexed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 

3.  The  remaining  counties  in  Arkansas  shall  be  annexed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  St.  Louis. 

4.  The  Synod  of  Missouri  shall  notify  the  Synod  of  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory of  the  foregoing  action,  with  the  request,  that  hereafter  all  work  in 
Arkansas  shall  be  done  by  the  Presbyteries  covering  the  state,  with  the 
exception  of  the  church  at  Mena,  which  it  is  hereby  agreed  shall  be  allowed 
to   remain    in    connection   with    the   Presbytery   of  Choctaw,   until   a   further 


14  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

readjustment  of  Presbyterial  lines  is  made."   (Minutes  of  Synod,   1898,  pp. 
67,  68.) 

This  readjustment  was  made  in  190G  when  the  clinreli  of  Mena  was 
transferred  from  the  Presbytery  of  Choctaw  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark 
and   Synod   passed    the   following: 

"Resolved,  That  the  western  tier  of  counties  in  the  State  of  Arkansas. 
so  far  as  not  now  belonging  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  he  now  detached 
from  the  Presbytery  of  White  River  and  annexed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark."     (Minutes  1900,  p.  47). 

Previous  to  this  the  churches  of  Jonesboro  and  Ridge  Sta- 
tion had  been  transferred  from  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  whilst  the  moribund  church  of  Eol 
Springs  disappeared  from  the  Assembly  minutes  after  1900.  At 
present  the  Presbyteries  of  White  River  and  Ozark  ace  supposed 
to  cover  the  State.  But  as  Mena  and  Jonesboro  have  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  and 
Ridge  Station  has  ceased  to  be.  the  work  of  the  Presbyter}-  of 
Ozark  is  represented  by  the  church  of  Eureka  Springs  and  a 
few  other  churches  whose  names  will  appeal*  later  in  this  vol- 
ume. It  will  be  seen  that  in  Arkansas  we  have  a  vast  territory 
and  but  little  else.  But  since  the  Master's  kingdom  is  "not  of 
this  earth"  the  space  given  to  this  territory  is  out  of  prophetic 
regard  to  the  greater  things  yet  to  be  when  reunited  Presby- 
terianism shall  come  to  an  inheritance  commensurate  with  her 
capacity  to  aid  and  bless.  I  have  found  traces  of  a  rather  ex- 
tensive work  in  Arkansas  carried  on  by  the  New  School  Minis- 
ters prior  to  the  Civil  War.  The  following  extract  from  a  cor- 
respondence from  Bentonville.  Ark.,  to  "The  Home  Missionary" 
of  May.  1844.  is  given  as  a  sample:  "Since  my  hist  report  I 
have  been  called  to  deliver  several  public  addresses  upon  the 
subject  of  education.  I  have  also  engaged  with  others  in  the 
enterprise  of  putting  a  collegiate  institution  into  operation  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  The  college  is  to  be  called  'Far  West 
Seminary,'  and  to  be  located  in  Washington  County.  A  Board 
of  Visitors,  of  which  I  am  the  presiding  officer,  and  a  Board  of 
Trustees  have  been  appointed.  We  have  already  obtained  con- 
siderable donations  in  lands  and  other  property,  and  have  agreed 
to  erect  a  brick  edifice  to  commence  the  institution  as  soon  as 
practicable.  My  heart  is  very  much  set  on  this  enterprise  and  I 
am   greatly  encouraged  to   hope  we   may  succeed." 

But  this  Arkansas  work  is  buried  in  an  oblivion  so  dee])  that 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  15 

I  have  failed  to  find  any  connection  herewith  to  the  post-bellum 
operations  of  Ozark  Presbytery,  and  therefore  I  shall  not  attempt 
to  exhume  it  farther. 

The  offspring  of  a  reunion  herself,  it  was  but  natural  that 
the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  should  hail  with  glad  acclaim  the  re- 
union with  "The  Army  of  the  Cumberland."  At  the  first  op- 
portunity, without  a  dissenting  voice,  without  debate  and  fol- 
lowed by  the  singing  of  the  doxology,  she  voted  for  the  union — 
impelled  to  an  early  action  by  the  thought  that  it  would  encour- 
age the  union  movement  in  the  Cumberland  wing  of  the  church. 
And  as  an  evidence  of  her  faith  in  the  final  triumph  of  the  move- 
ment received  and  amalgamated  the  Cumberland  churches  of 
Joplin  and  Webb  City  with  her  churches  of  these  places,  and 
formed  tentative  unions  with  her  churches  and  the  Cumberland 
churches  at  Ash  Grove,  Greenfield,  Mount  Vernon.  Neosho  and 
West  Plains.  This  historical  sketch  was  begun  the  10th  day  of 
July,  1906.  Ten  days  before  this,  by  order  of  Presbytery,  a 
church  was  organized  in  the  populous  mining  city  of  Carterville. 

Through  the  co-operation  of  the  Committees  of  Home  Mis- 
sions and  Sunday  School  Work  a  student  from  the  Lebanon  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Mr.  C.  W.  Sample,  had  been  laboring  in  the 
city  for  about  a  month.  The  reunited  church  of  Webb  City 
agreed  to  give  the  new  church  the  building  that  had  formerly 
belonged  to  the  Cumberland  Church  of  Webb  City,  worth  about 
$2,500 ;  the  prospective  members  of  the  new  church  purchased 
the  lot  and  the  Board  of  Church  Erection  was  asked  for  $500  to 
defray  the  cost  of  moving  and  placing  the  building.  Thus  the 
wisdom  of  the  reunion  became  apparent. 


i6  Presbyterianism  i\  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  I. 


CONFLUENT  STREAMS  THAT  SINK  TO  RISE  IX  RILLS. 

H  has  been  intimated  that  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  was 
formed  by  the  converging  of  two  streams  of  Presbyterianism. 
Like  a  lost  river,  these  streams  all  but  sank  from  view  for  a 
time,  only  to  reappear  with  diminished  force,  then  to  gather 
momentum    until   they   converged. 

A  FOREIGN   MISSION   FOUNDATION. 

Let  those  who  are  inclined  to  disparage  foreign  missions 
in  the  supposed  interests  of  home  missions  remember  that  South- 
west Missouri  was  first  foreign  mission  territory.  And  it  took 
its  missionaries  longer  to  reach  their  field  than  it  takes  mis- 
sionaries to  reach  China  today. 

"In  the  year  1819  the  United  Foreign  Mission  Society  sent 
two  men  as  exploring  agents  among  the  Indians  in  what  was 
then  known  as  Missouri  Territory.  *  *  *  They  finally  se- 
lected a  site  for  their  mission  on  the  west  side  of  the  Grand 
River,  about  twenty  miles  from  Fort  Gibson,  in  the  present 
Cherokee  country.  This  is  the  first  notice  we  have  of  the  Osages 
attracting  the  attention  of  Christian  people  or  any  endeavors 
to  carry  the  gospel  to  them.  The  Osages  were  a  tribe  of  Indians 
that  claimed  and  occupied,  as  wandering  hunters  do,  the  region 
south  of  the  Kansas  River  to  the  Arkansas,  thus  embracing  a 
considerable  portion  of  what  is  now  Western  Missouri.  Eastern 
Kansas  and  the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  Cherokee  and 
Creek  Indians.  They  were  divided  into  two  bands,  one  of  which 
had  headquarters  *  *  *  along  the  Marais  des  Cygnes  River. 
*  *  *  A  mission  company  consisting  of  nine  men  and  eight 
women  was  sent  out  by  the  society  in  the  year  1820  to  establish 
a  mission  among  the  Osages  of  the  Grand  River.  Two  of  the 
ladies  died  on  the  journey.  *  *  *  Having  made  a  beginning 
with  the  Osages  of  the  Grand  River,  the  society  decided  to  send 
another  company  to  the  Osages  of  Missouri,  and  a  second  com- 
pany was  formed,  which  left  New  York  for  its  destination  March 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  17 

7th.  1821.  This  company  came  by  way  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi, 
Missouri  and  Osage  Rivers,  on  keel  boats."  *  *  *  After  a 
most  laborious  passage  they  landed  in  Bates  County  August 
9,  1821.* 

This  mission,  known  as  Harmony  Mission,  subsequently 
passed  under  the  care  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, and  was  continued  with  varying  fortunes  until  1836.  In 
1822  a  church  was  formed  of  twenty  members.  Only  two  were 
added  for  twenty  years,  when  there  was  a  revival  that  brought 
into  it  twenty  others.  In  1830  it  was  said  of  the  Indians:  "They 
remain  the  same  dark,  bewildered  race,  clinging  to  their  idols. 
'  This  mission  has  been  established  at  great  expense  of  money 
and  some  valuable  lives.  Many  prayers  have  been  offered  for 
its  success,  but  little,  very  little,  to  human  view  has  been  accom- 
plished." 

But  though  this  mission  did  little  for  the  Indians,  it  left 
permanent  traces  on  this  Synod,  for  the  missionaries  were  ready 
for  the  incoming  white  population  and  were  transferred  from 
the  roll  of  foreign  missionaries  to  that  of  home  missionaries. 

The  churches  in  this  and  contiguous  missions  were  for  a 
time  isolated  and  independent. 

In  1823  the  missionaries  in  Harmony,  Union  and  Dwight 
Missions  formed  what  was  called  the  Indian  Mission  Presbytery. 
As  the  Indians  passed  away,  under  the  name  of  Harmony  Pres- 
bytery, the  work  became  identified  with  the  Synod  of  Missouri." 

HARMONY    AND     (THE    FIRST)     OSAGE    PRESBYTERIES. 

In  1836  the  mission  was  given  up  and  the  work  for  the  In- 
dians was  abandoned.  The  report  of  the  Board  says:  "No 
modern  effort  among  the  American  Indians  has  been  attended 
with  more  trials  of  various  kinds." 

Gradually  the  Harmony  Church  became  disintegrated.  But 
the  families  of  the  mission  formed  the  nucleus  of  various  churches 
in  that  region,  ard  their  descendants  are  found  there  to  thrs  day 
None  of  these  churches  appear  to  have  been  in  the  confines  of 
Ozark  Presbytery,  as  described  on  a  previous  page.  But  as  Ver- 
non County  Was  a  part  of  Ozark  Presbytery,  as  constituted  in 
1870,  two  of  them — Little  Osage  and  Marmiton — have  a  place 
in  this  history.  When  the  church  was  disrupted  in  1837  the 
fruits  of  these  early  efforts  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  New  School 
Church.  And  as  they  were  first  on  the  field  the  results  of  their 
labors  will  be  given  first.  The  Presbytery  bore  the  name  of 
Harmony  until   1846,  when  it  was  changed  to  Osage.     Unfort-u- 

*See  Dr.  John  B.  Hill 's  History   of  Kansas  City  Presbytery,  pp.  100,  101. 


1 8  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Oxarks 

[lately  the  minutes  of  this  first  Osage  Presbytery  seem  to  be  lost 
beyond  recovery.  However,  as  the  major  pari  of  the  work 
rounded  by  this  Presbytery  passed  through  the  Second  Presby- 
tery of  Osage  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City,  a  detailed  ac- 
count thereof  is  not  pertinent  in  this  work.  The  Presbyiery  of 
Harmony  is  given  in  the  minutes  of  the  New  School  Assembly 
for  the  first  time  in  1843.  At  that  lime  this  Assembly  convened 
but  once  in  three  years.  The  reports,  therefore,  are  probably 
for  three  years.  The  statistics  for  this  Presbytery  are  no1  very 
luminous,  as  a   copy  here  given  will  show: 


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1843 

CHURCHES 

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79   Presbytery   of 

Harmony 

Nathan   P.   Dodge 

Little   Osage 
(  Deepwater 

Little   Osage,   Mo. 

Amasa  Jones 

<   Salem 
(  Oseola 

Deepwater,   Mo. 

E.  P.   Noel 

George  A.  M.  Een- 

shaw 

Mount   Zion 

Springfield,   Mo. 

B.   Ryland— 5 

Herman 
Warbelavj — ." 

Bolivar,  Mo. 

82 

146 

Of  the  seven  churches,  Little  Osage  .Mount  Zion,  Hermon 
and  Warbleau  were  in  the  territory  subsequently  assigned  to 
Ozark  Presbytery.  How  many  of  the  1-4(5  members  reported  as 
belonging  to  the  Presbytery  were  in  these  lour  ehurches  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing-.  The  Mrrmiton  Church,  in  Vernon 
County,  is  not  given  in  the  minutes  of  1343,  though  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  organized  prior  to  1337,  Settle  Osage  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  X.  B.  Dodge  June  27,  1835;  and  Herman  or  Her- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  19 

mon,  in  Polk  County,  some  time  before  1830.  The  next  triennial 
minutes  make  no  mention  of  Warbleau. 

All  vestiges  of  Hermon  and  Warbieau  have  disappeared. 
Little  Osage  and  Marmiton  have  left  but  a  fragrant  memory. 
Only  Mount  Zion  remains.  "They  that  trust  111  the  Lord  shall 
be  as  Mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  remove.  1,  but  abide  th  for- 
ever. ' ' 

In  addition  to  these  live  churches,  five  or  six  others  Avere 
organized  before  the  Civil  War — North  Prairie,  Hickory  County, 
about  1843 ;  Springfield,  Greene  County,  1849 ;  Gasconade,  Wright 
County,  about  1851 ;  Walnut  Grove,  Greene  County.  1853,  and 
Red  Hill,  Greene  County.  There  seems  also  to  have  been  a 
church  at  Hermitage, in  Hickory  County,  but  it  does  not  appear 
on  the  Assembly's  roll. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  a  large  part  of  these  early  efforts 
were  made  in  country  districts.  Mount  Zion  and  North  Prairse 
were  the  strongest  churches.  The  former  was  a  tower  of  strength, 
sending  out  colonies  not  only  to  Walnut  Grove  and  Springfield, 
but  also  to  far-away  Oregon  and  California.  In  1851  Mount 
Zion  reported  100  members,  and  in  1857  North  Prairie  reported 
93.  Here  were  the  scenes  of  spiritual  refreshings,  and  from 
these  sources  went  forth  streams  of  salvation  to  make  glad  the 
city  of  our  God.  Where  are  the  descendants  of  these  pioneer 
Presbyterians?  Hickory  County,  a  veritable  land  of  promise,  has 
long  been  without  a  Presbyterian  church.  The  county  historian 
of  Polk  County  evidently  failed  to  find  traces  of  Presbyterian 
activity  in  that  county  before  the  war.  Wright  County  we  have 
long  since  given  over  to  the  moles  and  the  bats. 

In  1857  the  New  School  Church  reached  the  high  water 
mark.  That  part  of  the  Presbytery  lying  in  this  territory  had 
nine  churches,  with  304  communicants.  For  three  successive  years 
the  Presbytery  of  Osage  was  starred  in  the  Assembly  minutes, 
indicating  that,  in  r'eu  of  a  report,  the  report  of  the  previous 
year  was  inserted.  After  1860  even  the  name  of  the  Presbytery 
was  dropped  from  the  Assembly  roll,  not  to  reappear  until  1.866'. 
The  causes  of  the  disintegration  of  the  Presbytery  were  the 
position  of  the  church  on  the  issue  of  the  day  and  the  with- 
drawal of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  from  the  work 
in  Missouri.     In  June,  1857,  Rev.  William  H.  Smith  wrote: 

"I  can  not  be  sustained  without  aid  from  abroad,  and  unless  that  conies 
T  must  either  leave  the  state  or  resort  to  some  secular  occupation.  Now 
when  the  immigration  to  this  region  is  immense,  when  the  Eastern  people 
as  well  as  others  are  settling  up  our  prairies,  we  are  crippled  by  the  want 
of  proper  support — must  leave  in  a  great  measure  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry to  obtain  a  living!  Our  church  is  not  going  to  do  much  in  Western 
Missouri  without  preachers  can  be  placed  in  circumstances  to  labor  more 
effectively.     Brother  Jones  because  of  his  age  and  affliction   of  the  throat. 


2o  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

is  thinking  about  giving  up  his  charge.  Brother  Bradshaw  is  almost  super- 
annuated, Brother  Requa  is  practicing  medicines  and  is  not  going  much  in 
the  ministry;  and  Brother  Renshaw  has  recently  deceased,  so  that  you  see 
we  are  weak  in  men  and  means,  not  so  much  in  means  perhaps  as  in  dispo- 
sition  to  aid   in  supporting  the   gospel."* 

But  though  the  Presbytery  disintegrated,  the  labors  of  such 
men  as  N.  B.  Dodge,  Amasa  Jones,  Levi  Morrison.  G.  A.  M.  Ren- 
shaw,  Albert  G.  Taylor,  Bedford  Ryland  and  William  H.  Smith 
were  not  in  vain.  They  are  recorded  in  the  annals  of  the  church 
triumphant,  whose  records  are  never  lost.  And  streams  of  their 
influence  are  yet  watering  the  waste  places  of  the  earth,  if  we 
could  only  trace  them. 

The  Presbyterian  Recorder  contained  this  item  that  illus- 
trates the  spirit  and  purposes  of  the  work . 

"A  brother  in  the  bounds  of  Osage  Presbytery  in  a  private  business 
note  under  date  of  November  2,  1854,  writes:  'At  a  previous  meeting  of 
our  Presbytery  we  concluded  to  establish  a  school  of  high  order  to  be  under 
care  of  Osage  Presbytery.  At  our  last  meeting  a  board  of  trustees  was 
elected,  with  power  to  secure  a  title  to  forty  acres  of  land  lying  in  Greene 
County,  including  the  Cave  Spring,  the  present  place  of  Brother  Renshaw's 
church.  This  donation  of  land  and  $600.00  in  subscription  is  given  by 
Brother  R.'s  people.  We  have  in  all  about  $2,000.00  subscribed,  and  intend 
to  contract  for  building  this  winter  and  have  them  erected  by  next  fall. 
I  have  just  returned  from  Brother  Morrison's  meeting.  A  precious  time 
we  have  had.  The  Lord  came  down  in  power.  About  twenty  souls  are  re- 
joicing in  Christ  as  the  result.  Brother  M.  is  greatly  encouraged.  At 
Brother  Renshaw's  a  similar  result  has  been  witnessed.  We  have  had 
some  mercy  drops  even  at  Warsaw.'  " 

In  the  Mid-Continent  of  May,  1890,  Dr.  James  H.  Brooks 
said  : 

"It  is  not  true  that  there  is  anything  in  the  Form  of  Government  or 
doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  account  for  the  slow  growth  during 
the  three-quarters  of  a  century.  But  apart  from  the  fact  that  much  of  the 
time  has  been  spent  in  righting  oue  another  instead  of  fighting  shoulder  to 
shoulder  she  has  not   at  all  utilized  her  resources." 

This  statement  was  made  a  plea  for  some  kind  of  a  regula- 
tion similar  to  that  provided  for  subsequently  in  the  constitu- 
tional rule  pertaining  to  local  evangelists,  and  if  the  good  Doctor 
looks  down  from  the  glory  world  on  the  church  of  today  no 
doubt  he  realizes  that  his  plea  has  found  a  completer  answer  in 
the  Pivsbyterifm  Brotherhood.  But  who  can  measure  the  lolly 
of  "fighting  one  another  instead  of  fighting  shoulder  to  shoul- 
der?" Much  of  the  weakness  of  Presbyterianism  inheres  in  the 
dismembered  front  she  has  presented  to  the  world. 

Dr.  Brooks  said  in  another  place  that  Judge  Lucas  remarked 
to  Judge  Gamble:    "I  wish  my  daughters  to  be  Roman  Catholics, 

*Hill's  History  of  K.  C.  Presbytery. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  21 

because  that  church  teaches  women  to  be  obedient  and  submis- 
sive ;  but  I  hope  that  my  sons  will  be  Presbyterians,  for  then  I 
am  sure  they  will  fight." 

Well,  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls  required  men  of  con- 
viction. The  iron  heel  of  destiny  may  grind  such  men  to  pow- 
der like  flint.  Their  organiations  may  be  crushed  out.  But  the 
world  can  never  repay  its  debt  of  gratitude  to  them. 

0.   S.   PRESBYTERIES    (MISSOURI,   UPPER  MISSOURI. 
LAFAYETTE.) 

None  of  the  controversies  that  have  affected  Presbyterianism 
so  disastrously  in  this  State  have  originated  in  her  borders.  Lin- 
gering regrets  have  given  place  to  reluctant  separations  only 
when  independent  positions  seemed  no  longer  tenable.  Not  until 
1840  did  the  separation  of  the  Old  and  New  School  churches 
take  place  in  this  State.  Nominally,  at  least,  four  Old  School 
Presbyteries  sucessively  embraced  the  territory  of  the  subsequent 
Ozark  Presbytery.  They  were  Missouri,  Upper  Missouri,  Lafayette 
and  Southwest  Missouri. 

At  its  organization,  October  2d,  1832,  the  original  Synod  of 
Missouri  consisted  of  three  Presbyteries.  The  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis  covered  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  the  Presbytery  of 
St.  Charles  the  northeastern  part  and  the  Presbtery  of  Missouri 
the  rest  of  the  State.  In  1813  the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri 
was  formed  out  of  the  western  part  of  the  Presbytery  of  Mis- 
souri, and  in  the  fall  of  1856  the  Synod  erected  that  portion  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri  lying  south  of  the  Missouri 
River  into  the  Presbytery  of  Lafayette. 

As  with  the  New  School  church  so  with  the  Old — the  centers 
of  effort  and  influence  were  to  the  north  of  our  confines.  Mount 
Zion  Church  at  Cave  Springs  and  Ebenezer  at  Greenfield  were 
for  decades  the  most  influential  churches  in  this  territory — the 
former  was  New  School  and  the  latter  Old  School.  Not  till  1860. 
when  Calvary  Church  was  organized  at  Springfield  did  the  old 
school  church  gain  a  permanent  foothold  in  any  of  our  now 
populous  cities. 

"The  old  school  church  began  its  operations  in  the  South- 
west in  1842,  in  Dade  County,  where  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Bell  or- 
ganized the  Ebenezer  Church  of  sixteen  members.  The  principal 
man  in  that  organization  was  J.  M.  Rankin,  who  came  from  East 
Tennessee,  two  of  whose  sons  are  now  ministers  and  two  others 
prominent  men  in  Kansas.  This  Ebenezer  Church  was  the  only 
one  in  that  region  until  January,  1854,  when  the  Mount  Vernon 
Church  (subsequently  called  Ozark  Prairie)  was  organized.    The 


22  Presbyjerianism  in  the  (  )/.\KKS 

pastor  of   the    Bbenezer  Church    had   ;i    parish    extending    From 
Cedar  County  to  the  Arkansas  River,  a  distance  of  L30  miles."* 
Less  than  a  generation  ago  it  could  be  said  of  African  map 
makers : 

''Such    dense    ignorance    abounds 
They  place  elephants  for  want  of  towns.'' 

A  Tier  the  organization  of  the  E'benezer  Church  twelve  years 
elapsed  before  another  was  organized.  The  statistics  for  Lafay- 
ette Presbytery  indicate  thai  before  1865  the  following  candi- 
dates and  churches  in  Southwest  Missouri  had  been  on  its  roll 
at  one  time  or  another:  Churches — Ebenezer  and  Mount  Vernon 
received  at  organization;  Little  Osage  and  Marmiton  enrolled 
September  16,  1859;  Springfield  Calvary  enrolled  September  26, 
1860;  North  Spring  River  and  Bolivar.  April  13,  1861.  Candi- 
dates— Received  at  time  of  organization.  W.  L.  Mitchell.  S.  YV. 
Mitchell  and  J.  X.  Rankin. 

In  1857  the  Presbytery  met  in  Greenfield,  and  in  1859  it 
elected  Rev.  John  McFarland  a  Commissioner  to  the  General 
Assembly. 

The  men  of  national  reputation  confined  their  labors  to 
other  parts  of  the  State.  In  lieu  of  the  account  of  movements  In 
this  section,  therefore.  I  shall  here  insert  pen  sketches  of  typical 
conditions  in  the  other  parts  of  the  State.  These  sketches  are 
taken  from  addresses  delivered  at  the  semi-centennial  of  the 
Synod  of  Missouri,  held  at  St.  Louis  in  October,  1882 : 

Prom  a  letter  written  for  the  Synod  by  Dr.  Edwin  F.  Hat- 
field : 

"The  Synod  of  Missouri  was  born  in  the  midst  of  a  gracious  outpour- 
ing of  the  Spirit,  baptizing  the  churches  from  St.  Louis  to  Apple  Creek  on 
the  south,  Columbia  on  the  west  and  Palmyra  on  the  north. 

"The  members  of  the  Synod  (1832),  with  their  wives,  were  enter 
tained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Shaekleford,  after  which  at  the  public 
meeting  I  preached  again.  The  next  day  three  public  services  were  held 
and  sermons  were  preached  by  Brothers  Cochran,  McAfee,  and  Hoxsey. 
Sermons  were  preached  on  Saturday  by  Brothers  Durfee  and  Wood,  and 
service  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  full  of  interest,  was  held  in  the 
evening.  Very  little  time  was  given  to  the  details  of  ecclesiastical  busi- 
ness. Two  of  the  Presbyteries  had  just  begun  to  be,  and  had  but  a  brief 
record   for  review  by  the   Synod.     *     *     * 

"As  the  churches  were  called  upon  to  relate  their  story  for  the  year 
it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  it  had  been,  even  in  those  'ends  of  the  earth' 
as  it  had  been  all  over  the  land,  a  year  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most- 
High  God.  First  and  foremost,  the  church  with  whom  they  had  assemble." 
had  been  favored  with  a  visitation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  unexampled,  net 
only  in  its  own  history,  but  in  all  the  region  west  of  the  great  river.  A 
wonderful  work  of  grace  during  the  previous  winter  and  spring  had  been 
wrought    in    St.    Louis,  putting  new  life   into  both   ministers  and   people,  aud 

*Qroted  from   Dr.  Timothy  Hill's    History  Outlines,  etc..   p.   25. 


PRESBYTERIAXISM    IX    THE    OZARKS  2$ 

resulting  in  the  accession  of  128  members  to  the  church,  doubling  their  num- 
ber quadrupling  their  energy  and  zeal  for  the  Master;  resulting  also  in 
the  organization  of  the  Des  Peres  Church,  about  fourteen  miles  west  of  the 
city,  and  in  plans  for  the  speedy  organization  of  a  second  church  in  St. 
Louis.     *     *     * 

"The  showers  of  divine  grace  had  extended  their  benign  and  life- 
giving  influence  to  St.  Charles,  where  Brother  Wood  had  been  laboring 
about  two  years,  with  about  seventy  conversions,  and  had  lately  welcomed 
some  fifty  new  converts  into  the  church.  Far  do.vn  th«  river,  in  Perry 
County,  Brother  Cowan's  people  at  Apple  Creek  had  caught  something  of 
the  heavenly  shower  and  counted  some  thirty  or  forty  converts  among 
their  widely  scattered  habitations.  Brother  Ladd,  of  Fannington  in  St. 
Francis    County,  told    how    his    heart    had    been    stirred    by    what 

he  had  heard  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April  of  the  Lord's 
doings,  and  he  had  gone  home  resolved  to  labor  anil  pray  for  a  revival; 
and  the  whole  region  about  Fannington  had  been  aroused  to  call  upon 
God,  and  many  had  been  converted  from  the  error  of  their  ways.  Brother 
Donnell,  too,  brought  good  news  from  the  lead  mines  in  Washington  County, 
below  Potosi,  and  told  of  a  score  or  more  converted  among  his  people. 
Away  up  the  country  in  Calloway  County,  among  the  prairies  and  groves, 
in  the  region  of  Fulton,  Brother  Hoxsey  had  to  tell  of  a  blessed  visitation 
of  grace  that  had  given  the  Aux  Vasse  Church  a  blesse  1  accession  of  more 
than  forty  new  members.  Columbia,  too_  in  Boone  County,  had  not  been 
passed  by,     *     *  and   far  up  the  Mississippi,  wher^  Dr.   Nelson  *had   so 

faithfully  testified  of  Christ  and  his  cross,  in  and  about   Palmyra, 
similar  miracles  of  divine  grace   ha  I   heen  wrought  " 

Dr.  Hatfield  then  gives  an  account  of  the  second  and  third 
meetings  of  Synod — the  one  at  Columbia  in  1833.  the  other  at 
St.  Charles  in  'l834. 

At  Columbia  the  Synod  could  only  adjourn  from  day  to  day 
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  a  quorum  could  not  be  obtained.  It 
was  regarded  as  an  unhappy  occurrence  that  the  county  horse 
races  were  to  commence  the  opening  day  of  Synod.  But  the 
members  of  Synod  began  a  revival — the  races  were  given  up  in 
despair  and  "more  than  fourscore  souls  were  hopefully  con- 
verted. ' ' 

Of  the  third  meeting  he  writes : 

"On  Thuisday,  October  16,  IS34,  early  m  the  morning,  Brothers  Don- 
nell, Potts,  Allen  and  myself  mounted  our  horses  at  St.  Louis  and  rode  very 
pleasantly  to  the  bank  opposite  St.  Charles,  on  the  Missouri  River<  reach- 
ing the  ferry  about  11:30  a.  m.,  within  four  hours.  There  we  had  to  wait 
six  hours  for  the  crazy  old  ferryboat,  the  wiwnd  having  been  too  hihg  for 
the  miserable  old  craft  to  attempt  to  Ueer  the  tierce  current  until  then. 
Ten  hours  were  thus  consumed  in  reaching  St.  Charles  from  St.  Louis.  We 
found  that  the  brethren,  wearied  with  waiting  for  the  St.  Louis  brethren, 
had  undertaken  to  organize  the  Synod  with  only  two  Presbyteries.  The 
next  morning  we  organized  anew.  *  *  * 

"As  at  St.  Louis  and  Columbia,  so  at  St.  Charles,  t tie  one  business  of 
the  Synod  was  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  with  direct  reference  to  the 
conversion  of  souls.  Twice  or  thrice  daily  the  wror«i  of  Clod  was  pro- 
claimed, and  at  least  every  evening  the  anxious  wero  called  i-ut  of  whom 
there  were  at   least  a  score,  several  of  whom  were  hopefully  converted." 


2\  Presbyterianism  in  the  OZARKS 

The    evangelistic    character   of    pioneer    Presbyterianism    in 
Missouri  is  abundantly  attested  by  others. 

Dr.   Timothy   Hill: 

"The  mosi  marked  agency,  especially  in  Northeast  Missouri,  under 
the  leadership  of  Dr.  Nelson,  Cochran  and  others,  was  the  camp  meeting. 
The  work  was  carried  on  systematically,  camps  consisting  of  tents  or  more 
permanenl  structures  m  the  form  of  sheds,  in  which  the  preaching  services 
were  held,  and  around  which  tents  were  pitched,  constituted  the  external 
appearance  of  the  work.  The  places  selected  were  generally  in  a  ^rove, 
near  a  Large  spring,  for  '  much  water'  was  needed  for  the  accommodation 
of  both  man  and  beast.  When  the  selection  was  made  the  ground  was 
usually  entered,  in  order  to  become  the  fixed  property  of  some  one,  anil 
thus  remained  from  year  to  year.  To  these  meetings  people  came  from 
a  great  distance  and  remained  oftentimes  for  days  together,  listening  to 
most  earnest,  pungent  preaching,  and  great  numbers  were  gathered  into 
the  church." 

From  an  address  by  Rev.  John  Leighton : 

"Let  us  take  a  glance  at  our  places  of  worship  generally,  at  that  early 
day.  We  may  consider  them  as  of  three  classes.  First  and  best  were  the 
small  buildings,  frequently  wooden,  put  up  without  any  thought  of  archi- 
tectural symmetry,  unsightly  in  shape,  without  finish  and  devoid  of  com- 
fort. *  *  *  A  second  class  comprised  the  log  or  board  buildings,  fre- 
quently with  but  one  or  at  the  most  three  openings  called  windows^  but  as 
likely  as  not  without  glass,  and  supplied  with  a  piece  of  sacking  to  keep 
out  the  rain.  They  had  puncheon  floors,  and  split  logs  mounted  on  pegs 
for  seats.  They  were  built  without  workmen  and  without  the  outlay  of  $20 
in  cash.  But  when  one  of  them  was  completed  by  the  ax  and  fro  of  elder 
and  brethren  there  was  as  real  a  jubilation  as  whwen  Bezaleel  finished  the 
work  of  the  tabernacle.  *  *  *  The  third  class  of  church  buildings  con- 
sisted of  mere  sheds,  capable  of  covering  800  or  1,000  persons.  These 
shelters  were  built  for  the  accommodation  of  what  were  then  everywhere 
known  as  Presbyterian  camp  meetings — an  institution  growing  out  of  nec- 
essary and  blessed  evangelization   among  a  destitute  and  sparse  population. 

*  *  *  The  floor  was  our  mother  earth,  with  here  and  there  a  stump 
from  which  a  post  had  been  cut.  The  pulpit  was  an  unplaned  board  made 
fast  to  a  tree  at  each  end,  and  the  preacher's  seat  was  another' rough  board 
supported  in  the  same  substantial  way.  As  the  sides  and  front  and  rear 
were    all    open.        Nothing   circumscribed   the     limits     of     the     congregation. 

*  *  *  And  I  have  seen  as  many  as  fifty  men  standing  or  sitting  behind 
the   preacher,  these  generally  not  members  of  the  church. 

"While  there  was  far  more  spirit  and  devotion  in  the  singing  than 
we    now    witness,    it    was    loud   and    discharged    from    all    scientific    exactness. 

*  *  *  Dr.  David  Nelson,  Rev.  James  Gallaher  and  some  others  had  the 
voice  of  a  silver  trumpet — strong  and  mellow — and  the  first  named  espe- 
cially would  occasionally  come  in  where  no  hymn  was  expected  with  a 
solo  that  would  move  the  heart  and  start  the  tears.  As  for  musical  instru- 
ments, I  cannot  say  that  there  was  the  least  prejudice  against  them,  but 
for  the  reason  there  was  no  occasion  for  prejudice  instruments  being  uni- 
versally unknown  and  undesired.  Accompanying  the  singing,  on  the 
greater  occasions,  there  was  the  exercise  of  handshaking,  though  this  was 
not  common.  The  custom  seems  to  have  been  brought  in  by  good  brethren 
from  Tennessee,  who  had  a  number  of  ways   peculiar   to   them   and   not  laid 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  25 

down  in  the  book.     These  brethren  formed  quite  an  element  in  our  churches 
in  Missouri.     *     *     * 

"On  one  occasion  (a  meeting  of  Synod  in  Henry  County)  * 
there  came  up  a  storm  which  drove  us  to  what  was  called  'the  church' 
(Synod  was  meeting  in  a  basilica  or  shed),  a  log  house  such  as  I  have  de- 
scribed, having  one  opening  for  a  window,  but  no  glass.  The  pious  com- 
pany were  standing  up  and  singing,  when  suddenly  a  movement  was  made 
which  was  novel  to  me.  Across  the  floor  from  where  I  stood  and  near  the 
open  door  was  'Father'  Bradshaw,  the  pastor  of  the  church.  While  sing- 
ing with  much  spirit  he  advanced  and  took  the  hand  of  a  brother  and 
shook  it  with  vigor.  Thought  I  'This  is  a  brother  the  pastor  has  not 
chanced  to  see  during  the  meeting,  and  he  takes  the  liberty  of  greeting 
him  in  the  midst  of  the  devotions.'  Presently  he  advances  and  shakes  the 
hand  of  a  second  stranger.  'And  here  is  another,'  I  said  to  myself,  'he 
has  not  met  before.'  And  not  till  he  had  reached  the  third  and  fourth  did 
the  truth  burst  on  my  mind.  When  I  saw  the  good  pastor  advancing  to 
my  part  of  the  room  I  stiffly  turned  my  face  to  the  log  wall^  expecting 
that  he  would  pass  me  by.  In  this  I  was  disappointed.  He  laid  hold  upon 
my  shoulder  and  gave  me  a  violent  pull  around,  and  then  he  took  me  vig- 
orously by  the  hand,  a  Christian  honor  which  I  neither  understood  nor 
deserved. 

"At  that  same  meeting  an  incident  occurred  which  illustrates  the  un- 
pleasant necessities  of  those  primitive  days.  It  was  the  Sabbath  afternoon, 
and  the  Lord  's  Supper  had  been  celebrated  with  real  fervor  and  profit,  and 
there  were  many  wet  eyes.  About  ten  of  us  ministers  were  in  'the  stand' 
and  the  benediction  was  being  pronounced.  Just  as  the  final  word  was 
uttered  a  countrymen  thrust  himself  in  among  the  ministers.  He  cried 
out,  'I  want  to  speak  to  the  people.'  Raising  his  voice  yet  higher,  he  gave 
notice  of  'a  stray  mare,'  which  he  went  on  to  describe  with  more  par- 
ticularity than  elegance.*  While  some  of  us  were  considerably  taken 
aback,  that  fastidious  youth,  Henry  M.  Field,  who  had  been  called  to  the 
new  church  on  Sixth  street,  near  Morgan,  and  was  only  a  few  months 
from  his  cultured  associations  in  the  East<  could  not  repress  his  amaze- 
ment. This  was  his  first  venture  out  from  St.  Louis.  He  goes  instantly 
to  Father  Bradshaw  and  demands  what  this  kind  of  a  thing  meant.  'Oh,' 
said  the  pastor,  'we  are  here  for  the  present  constrained  to  allow  such  im- 
proprieties. '  Yet  some  of  these  improprieties  were  rebuked  in  a  character- 
istic way.  *  *  *  I  was  aiding  in  a  protracted  meeting  in  Lewis  County. 
During  the  delivery  of  the  sermon  one  day  a  young  man  engaged  in  carving 
on  the  back  of  the  bench  before  him.  A  minister  who  was  sitting  beside 
the  preacher  observed  the  irreverent  use  of  the  pocket  knife,  and,  stepping 
down,  he  took  up  a  billet  of  wood  from  beside  the  stove.  Going  with  it  to 
the  young  man,  he  presented  it  to  him,  saying,  'Whittle  on  that.'     *     *     * 

"But  as  for  the  preaching  of  those  days,  let  it  be  said  that  while  great 
improvement  and  advance  has  been  made  in  every  other  respect — in  our 
places  of  worship,  in  the  singing,  in  the  gentility  of  the  audiences,  and  in 
the  salaries  of  ministers — there  has  been  no  advance  in  the  quality  of  the 
sermons.  The  sermonizing  of  the  great  evangelists  I  have  named  was  not 
so  much  the   development  of  the  texts  they  cited  as  it  was  the  unfolding 

*Since  the  author  has  been  pastor  in  Springfield  he  was  conducting  a 
funeral  in  a  rural  district.  A  rural  minister  asked  the  privilege  of  making 
an  announcement.  He  first  expatiated  on  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion^ 
commended  the  "young  brother"  for  his  feeling  address,  sang  in  a  sepul- 
chral tone  three  or  four  stanzas  of  a  death-bed  song,  then  announced: 
' '  Not  to  detract  from  the  solemnity  of  this  occasion,  I  have  lost  a  sorrel 
horse,  white  mane  and  tail,  a  horn  saddle,"  etc. 


26  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

of  a  Bible  theme.  Dr.  Nelson,  I  suspect,  generally  selected  his  subject 
before  he  settled  upon  his  text,  yel  his  texts  contained  his  sermons.  He 
seldom  took  up  any  lmt  a  most  weighty  subject* — the  sovereignty  of  God 
(those  men  wore  strict  Calvinists) ;  the  fallen  condition  of  man;  the  nature 
and   need   of  regeneration;   free  grace;  justification  by   faith;   the  terror  of 

the    Lord. 

"*  *      Beginning   just    about    fifty    years   ago    (i.    e.,    fifty    years   be- 

fore 1882)  and  continuing  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  there  were  alino<t 
annual  revivals  in  quite  a  number  of  our  churches.  These  ingatherings 
were  counted  on  when  the  brethren  came  together,  three  or  four  in  number, 
to   preach    and   pray,   and   also   to   sing,   for   four   or    five   days    continuously. 

"Some  of  the  eailier  of  these  refreshings  should  bo  especially  singled 
out  because  of  the  character  of  the  subjects  of  them.  Throughout  a  con- 
siderable part  of  Missouri  there  was.  at  the  time  when  Dr.  Nelson  began 
his  labors,  a  widespread  infidelity  of  the  old-fashioned,  Jeffersonian  type. 
And  it  came  through  Kentucky  from  Virginia.  It  was  intelligent  and 
proud,  and  bold,  and  very  supercilious  toward  Christians,  and  toward 
preachers  particularly,  and  most  particularly  toward  Presbyterian  preach- 
ers. This  skepticism  included  lawyers  and  doctors  and  political  bosses. 
The  fame  and  popularity  of  the  camp  meetings  drew  those  men  near.  Dr. 
Nelson  gave  to  them  his  special  attention.  Having  himself  in  early  life 
been  one  of  them,  he  was  familiar  with  all  the  rat-holes  in  which  they 
burrowed.  In  short,  therefore,  at  one  and  another  of  these  revival  meet 
ings,  four  or  five  of  these  Anakim  would  fall  at  once.  And  sometimes  the 
number  of  them  would  be  great  enough  to  characterize  the  revival  as  an 
ingathering  of  converted  infidels.  A  few  old  men  yet  surviving  in  the 
churches  could  give  us  names  by  the  dozen.  It  was  the  privilege  of  the 
writer  of  this  paper  to  have  in  the  church  which  he  served  for  seventeen 
years  three  or  four  of  these  very  men,  two  of  them  being  ruling  elders. 
Another  of  those  converts  entered  the  ministry  and  went  as  a  missionary 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands. ' ' 

Air.  Leighton  thus  describes  another  condition  of  the  times: 

"School  houses  and  court  houses  were  the  common  resort,  and  even 
there  our  brethren  had  to  alternate  with  preachers  of  other  denomina- 
tions, two,  three,  or  even  four,  taking  the  place  on  successive  Sabbaths. 
This  arrangement  gave  rise  to  an  evil  which  in  those  days  was  rife  and 
almost  coextensive  with  the  State,  with  the  exception  of  St.  Louis  and  two 
or  three  other  places — an  evil  whwich  through  increasing  courtesy  and  kind 
feeling  has  happily  passed  nearly  away.  This  was  the  prevalence  of  con- 
troversy and  strife  over  points  of  doctrine.  What  the  Presbyterians 
preached  in  the  school  houses  on  the  previous  Sabbath  was  taken  up  on 
the  next  by  the  Reformer  and  fiercely  mutilated.  The  creed  of  the  Re- 
former in  turn  was  torn  to  shreds  by  the  Methodist  when  his  day  came 
around.  All  this  was  heard  to  a  large  extent  by  the  same  people  of  all 
the  denominations.  In  this  way  the  controverted  points,  to  say  nothing 
of  misrepresentations  and  slander,  became  the  theme  of  bitter  talk  through 
the  week  and  the  whole  community  would  thus  be  kept  in  hot  water.  And 
it  was  wonderful  how  sharp  and  knowing  men,  and  even  women  became 
in  those  disputed  themes — baptism,  water  regeneration,  the  gift  of  the 
Spirit,  etc.  They  also  'reasoned  high  of  fate,  free  will,  and  foreknowl- 
edge absolute.'  We  suspect  our  modern  city  Christians  would  not  know 
what    to    make   of   that    'strong   meat'   which    was    devoured,    I    do    not    say 

*I  have  somewhere  heard  Webster's  great  oratory  attributed  in  part 
to  the  fact  that  he  was  silent  save  on  weighty  themes. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  27 

digested,  the  whole  year  round.  That  bitter  controversial  spirit  which 
filled  the  air  too  often  crowded  out  living  piety,  and  was  even  made  a  sub- 
stitute for  it." 

Even  so  it  gave  to  the  godly  a  loyalty  to  church  my  eager 
eyes  have  longed  to  see.  The  Mount  Zion  Church  had  loyal 
members  as  far  away  as  Springfield.  And  before  the  Mount 
Vernon  Church  was  organized  "Uncle  Billy"  and  Aunt  Jenny 
Orr  trudged  on  horseback  from  their  home  three  miles  northwest 
of  Mount  Vernon  through  "the  wilderness"  to  Greenfield,  where 
their  pious  souls  feasted  on  the  "strong  meat"  provided. 

Though  the  scenes  of  the  foregoing  incidents  were  laid  for 
the  most  part  in  other  portions  of  the  State  and  the  actors  were 
largely  new  school  men,  they  are  not  out  of  place  here  by  reason 
of  the  facts  that  they  are  truly  typical,  and  in  part  at  least  relate 
to  events  that  transpired  before  the  unhappy  dismemberment  of 
our  church  in  the  State. 

It  is  a  good  thing  now  and  then  to  read  sermons  preached 
by  ministers  of  a  former  generation,  known  only  to  their  own 
generation  and  to  the  circumscribed  world  in  which  they  had 
their  being — the  humble  missionaries  of  the  cross.  Such  a  prac- 
tice may  soften  our  asperities  when  we  contemplate  the  militant 
character  of  former  denominationalism,  humble  our  spirits  as  we 
behold  how  they  delved  into  the  deep  things  of  God  and  remind 
us  that  long  before  a  new  chapter  on  "the  love  of  God  and  mis- 
sions" was  added  to  the  confession  their  souls  did  magnify  that 
boundless  grace  and  love  of  a  tender  Father  for  his  lost  and 
erring  sons  and  daughters. 

The  first  regular  supply  of  the  Ebenezer  Church  was  Kev. 
Valentine  Pentzer,  who  served  the  church  for  three  years.  Had 
some  enterprising  publisher  of  his  day  compiled  a  volume  enti- 
tled "Who  Is  Who?"  his  name  would  not  have  found  a  place 
therein,  nor  do  theological  catalogues  contain  the  titles  of  vol- 
umes of  his  sermons.  I  have  searched  in  vain  for  his  name  in 
various  historical  addresse  delivered  before  our  Synod.  But 
there  fell  into  my  hands  eleven  manuscript  sermons  preached  by 
him  in  the  middle  forties.  I  shall  insert  extracts  of  these  ser- 
mons to  exhibit  the  strong  spiritual  meat  which  pioneer  Pres- 
byterians of  Southwest  Missouri  were  fed  by  the  typical  and 
commonplace  home  missionaries,  and  to  show  that  Calvinism  as 
preached  sixty  years  ago  was  not.  as  revolting  as  it  is  often  rep- 
resented. No  wonder  the  preachers  of  that  day  were  reverenced 
as  men  of  God  and  loved  with  a  love  like  nnto  that,  of  David  and 
Jonathan.  Aunt  Mary  Johnson — now  deceased — said  that  when 
Valentine  Pentzer  and  William  Orr  parted  "it  was  like  two 
women — hugging,  kissing  and  crying." 

I  read  these  eleven  manuscripts  one  day  with  profound  in- 


28  PresbyteriaStism  in  the  Ozarks 

terest  and  heart  searchings.     They  are  qo1  as  Long  as  tradition 

would  lead  us  to  expect  ;  I  should  think  the  Longest  could  be 
preached  in  forty-five  minutes  and  the  average  in  thirty-five. 
They  are  a   little  more  polemical  than  tin-  preaching  of  today; 

and  while  they  dwell  more  on  the  strong  doctrines  of  the  Word, 
these  doctrines  are  presented  in  a  plain  and  practical  way. 
Without  any  effort  at  selection,  the  first  one  I  read  treated  of 
"Predestination."  the  second  of  "Election.'"  the  third  "The 
Support  of  the  Ministry."  the  fourth  "Christ  the  End  of  the 
Law  for  Righteousness."  These  sermons  are  remarkable  for  the 
vast  array  of  Scripture  with  which  they  are  buttressed.  If  the 
gentle  reader  thinks  that  such  lengthy  extracts  are  out  of  place 
in  a  historical  work  he  can  pass  them  by.  but  if  he  does  he  will 
miss  two  things — a  fair  representation  of  the  food  that  nour- 
ished the  pioneer  church  and  a  real  refreshment  for  his  own  soul. 

EXTRACTS. 

Zech.,  13:7  :  "That  this  passage  of  Scripture  lias  reference  to  Christ 
is  evident  because  Christ  himself  applies  it  so.  (Mat.,  26.31.)  The  doc- 
trine taught  directly  in  our  text  is  that  the  death  of  Christ  was  by  the 
decree  and  the  direct  command  of  God  the  Father.  (Then  he  reverts  to 
the  conspiracy  of  the  Jews  and  Pilate,  and  continues.)  They  were  but  his 
instruments  and  all  their  rage  could  easily  have  been  prevented. 
If  the  doctrine  of  predestination  is  denied  there  can  be  no  atonement.  For 
all  things  took  place  in  the  death  of  Christ  according  to  the  determinate 
counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God,  or  else  by  accident.  But  if  his  death 
happened  by  accident  and  contrary  to  the  decree  of  the  Almighty  how, 
then,  can  it  be  an  atonement  Would  it  not  be  the  most  dreadful  of  all 
nonsense  to  talk  about  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ  being  a  satisfaction  for 
our  sins,  a  sacrifice,  a  propitiation  and  an  atonement  if  it  all  had  been  only 
by  the  determinate  counsel  of  men,  say  the  dews?  And  yet  so  soon  as  you 
admit  that  the  Lord  laid  upon  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.  that  it  pleased 
the  Lord  Jehovah  to  bruise  him,  that  he  was  a  lamb  slain  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world,  you  (admit)  that  it  was  the  purpose  of  God  that  it 
should  be  so — that  is,  that  it  was  predestinated  to  lie  so.  (Here  he  cites 
in  full  Scripture  proofs  as  Luke  22:22,  John  19:11,  John  18:11  Luke  9:22, 
John  12.27,  Luke  22:53,  Acts  2:23.  Acts  4:27-28.)  *  *  *  '  If  there  is 
only  an  overruling  Providence,  that  simply  overrules  actions  after  they 
have  been  committed,  then  it  would  follow  that  after  the  .lews  crucified 
our  blessed  Saviour,  God  made  a  virtue  out  of  his  necessity  and  set  his 
blood  which  they  had  shed  to  the  account  of  those  who  should  repent. 
This  is  dreadful.  For  Jesus  Christ  was  an  innocent  man,  and  he  was  taken 
by  a  malicious  and  lawless  mob  and  crucified,  contrary  to  every  principle 
of  justice.  How  under  the  sun  could  Cod  then  on  any  natural  or  reasonable 
principles  set  this  wicked  transaction  down  as  a  bonus  in  his  government 
in  view  of  which  he  could  pardon  sinners?  But  if  you'deuy  the  doctrine  of 
predestination  you  are  obliged  to  occupy  that  ground!  Admit  the  doctrine 
that  God  works  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will  and  then  every- 
thing comes  in  its  natural  place.  (John,  3:16.)  And  the  divine  Son  loved 
our  race  so  well  as  to  bear  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  ami  that 
all  this  was  ratified  and  agreed  upon  fixed  and  settled,  long  before  the 
world   was  made   or   Adam's   dust    was   fashioned   into   man." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  29 

(From  a  Sermon  on  the  Two  Covenants.     Text,  Gal.,  4:24.): 

"It  is  thought  by  some  that  Adam  at  that  early  age  of  the  world  did 
not  understand  the  nature  of  covenants  and  covenant  relations — that  the 
metaphysics  of  mind  and  of  moral  obligations  were  ideas  too  abstract  and 
refined  for  his  rude  and  uncultivated  mind.  Adam  was  created  in  the 
image  of  his  God,  and  it  reflects  no  great  glory  on  the  character  of  God  to 
suppose  he  should  create  the  first  pair  as  ignorant,  as  rude  and  as  sensual 
and  gross  in  his  intellect  as  an  unlettered  Indian  and  his  squaw  in  the 
wild  woods  of  America.  St.  Paul  informs  us  that  the  image  of  God  con- 
sisted in  knowledge  and  true  holiness.  They  were  the  noblest  in  dignity, 
in  wisdom,  in  high  and  holy  conversation,  of  all  the  human  race.  They 
conversed  with  God,  with  angels,  with  high-born  seraphs,  and  little  squab- 
bles about  metaphysics,  about  natural  obligations  and  moral  abilities,  our 
theological  disquisitions  about  fate,  free  will  and  predestination  would 
have  been  like  the  squabbles  and  contentions  of  children  to  their  high  and 
holy  minds.  Adam  was  created  for  the  very  purpose  of  a  federal  head, 
and  every  way  qualified  for  the  high  station.  The  covenant  of  works  was 
made  with  him.  It  was  the  only  covenant'  that  could  be  made  with  him. 
The  covenant  of  grace  did  not  need  to  be  unfolded  then.  Mercy  as  yet 
on  earth  had  nothing  to  do.  After  he  fell  by  transgression  there  was  given 
to  him  an  intimation  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  but  it  could  not  be  made 
with  him,  for  he  could  not  atone  for  his  own  sin,  much  less  the  sins  of 
others.  The   covenant  of  works  was   the   only  one  that   could  be 

made  with  Adam.  The  law  of  that  covenant  they  violated.  It  is  now  a 
broken  covenant.  The  flood  has  long  since  swept  through  thy  bowers,  O 
Eden,  where  Eve  sang,  in  holy  love,  eternity,  creation  and  time  just  began. 
The  trees  of  the  garden — the  tree  of  knowledge  of  good  and  evil — and  the 
tree  of  life,  too,  that  grew  in  the  terrestrial  paradise  the  worms  have  long 
since  eaten.  But  the  violated  law  of  the  covenant  stands  demanding  the 
sinner 's  blood.  It  raises  its  insurmountable  barrier  between  God  and  the 
soul.  Its  claims  are  just — decided  so  in  the  high  court  of  heaven — and  they 
never  can  be  abated.  God  in  reviving  the  covenant  and  embodying  its 
principles  in  the  ten  commandments,  amid  the  awful  thunders  of  Mount 
Sinai,  showed  that  he  had  abated  nothing  from  his  claims.  Indeed,  he 
cannot,  without  injustice  to  himself  and  great  injury  to  his  creatures, 
demand  anything  less  than  perfect  obedience.  But  his  refining,  perfect 
obedience  by  no  means  implies  that  any  since  the  fall  of  man  have  had 
ability  sufficiently  to  keep  the  law  of  God  perfectly.     *     *  Xor  is  the 

right  to  claim  perfect  obedience  founded  upon  our  ability.  God  requires 
all  devils  to  love  Him  with  all  their  powers — but  devils  cannot  love.  They 
once  could — they  destroyed  their  abilities.  So  man  once  had  ability, 
but  now  he  is  sold  under  sin.  It  is  vain  to  say  we  had  no  hand  in  this 
transaction.  He  who  made  us  knew  where  our  greatest  strength  lay.  If 
he  had  seen  it  lay  in  you  he  would  have  made  the  covenant  with  you.  But 
he  made  it  with  him  who  was  best  able  to  fulfill  it.  But  he  fell  by  trans- 
gression, and  all  his  posterity  fell  in  him  and  with  him."     * 

Note  the  rhetorical  beauty  of  this  soliloquy  of  Adam: 

"Farewell,  Eden,  thou  loved  spot;  farewell,  innocence;  thou  lovely, 
heavenly  friend!  I  did  thee  much  wrong.  It  will  be  long  before  thou  wilt 
sing  in  my  habitation  again.  I  shall  sleep  in  the  dust  before  thou  wilt  again 
be  my  companion.  Farewell,  tree  of  life!  Thy  fruit  falls  no  more  for 
me  and  my  children.  Farewell,  tree  of  knowledge  of  good  and  evil,  fare- 
well! By  thee  I  offended.  Farewell  all — all!  But,  O,  who  can  tell  what 
seas  of  tideless,  waveless,  sailless,  shoreless,  hopeless  woe  awaits  me  and 
my  dear  children — wars,  famines,  pestilence,  plague,  fierce  diseases,  poverty, 


30  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

sorrow,  pain,  nakedness,  cold  and  hunger,  shame  and  fear — the  (indefinable, 
shapeless  monster  Death,  and  the  loathsome,  solitary  grave  are  now  their 
sad    inheritance.     O,    infinite    God!      Creator   omnipotent,   my    Father!    who 

st 1st   before  me  the  morning   I   first   awoke  by  sound  of  heavenly  music, 

The  first,  the  most  glorious  being  I  ever  saw!  Say,  0  say,  for  I  never  yel 
heard  of  mercy,  say  if  I  cannot  be  forgiven,  or  else  on  me  let  all  thy  thun- 
der fall  and  save  my  posterity — my  dear  children!" 

Now    note    how    admirably    the    Second    Covenant    is    intro- 
duced : 

"lint  tlie  answer  of  God  to  Adam  is  Go  thy  way,  Adam,  the  seed  of 
the  woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head,  the  vision  is  yet  for  many  days 
and  to  the  end  thereof  desolations  are  determined.  Thon  must  come  to 
the  grave  and  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the  earth  for  many  days,  lint  thou  hast 
now  heard  something  of  mercy.  Mercy  now  must  supply  the  place  of 
innocence.  Farewell,  child  of  heaven!  Fallen  but  now  penitent  child, 
farewell!  In  view  of  Adam's  fall  the  covenant  of  grace  was  made  with 
Christ,  the  second  Adam  before  the  world  began."     *     *      * 

That   sounds   Milt.onic  for  pioneer   preaching,  hut   note   this 
for  the  interdependence  of  the  cardinal  doctrines : 

"If  men  are  not  carnally  minded,  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  and 
enemies  to  God  there  is  no  need  of  a  Holy  Ghost.  Sr.art  with  the  doctrine 
that  man  is  not  spiritually  dead  and  totally  depraved,  ami  there  is  no  use 
for  the  doctrine  of  the  trinity.  If  man  is  only  bewildered — if  he  is  only 
a  child  lost  in  the  wilderness,  crying  for  home,  then  all  he  needs  is  sonx- 
one  to  guide  him  into  the  path.  He  needs  neither  an  Almighty  Being  for 
a  Saviour  nor  an  Almighty  Spirit  for  a  sanctifier.  Hence  those  people  who 
deny  the  divinity  of  Christ  and  the  power  and  presence  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
are  at  least  so  far  consistent  that  they  have  ao  useless  appendages  to  their 
creed.  They  believe  that  man's  nature  is  not  radically  vicious;  that  he 
is  only  spoiled  by  bad  company,  that  the  law  of  God  is  not  perpetual  in 
his  nature  and  obligations;  that  God  as  a  sovereign  can  bestow  pardon 
without  any  regard  to  His  law,  consequently  a  sacrifice  for  sin — a  real 
atonement  is  not  necessary.  Now  such  have  no  use  for  a  Saviour  who  was 
both  God  and  n  ht>—  no  use  for  a  covenant  of  grace  made  in  eternity  be 
tween  the  Father  and  Son  in  view  of  Adam's  fall.  Again,  what  use  have 
they  for  the  doctrine  of  regeneration  by  a  direct  and  powerful  work  of 
the  Holy  Ghost?     Man  needs  no  such  a  change.  All  he  needs  is 

that  some  one  of  truth  and  well  acquainted  with  the  subject  reveal  the 
mind  of  God  to  him.  Hence  these  people  who  deny  the  doctrine  of  the 
trinity,  the  divinity  of  Christ,  the  Holy  Ghost,  human  depravity,  predesti- 
nation, gratuitous  election  and  the  doctrine  of  a  real  atonement  are  much 
more  consistent  in  their  belief  than  those  who  hold  some  of  those  doctrines 
and  deny  the  rest.  What  is  it  that  gives  infinite  value  to  the  atonement  J 
Is  \t  the  divinity  or  the  humanity  of  Christ?  Undoubedlv  his  divinity. 
X.'W,  if  He  lad  all  the  essential  attributes  of  Deity  He  must  have  iad  a 
mind  perfectly  informed,  a  judgment  correctly  mad"  \\p.  a  will  fully  deler- 
n:ined_  so  as  to  remain  in  suspense  about  nothing.  For  can  it  be  presumed 
that  eternity  can  add  anything  to  the  stock  of  information  which  deity 
now  possesses?  Will  the  judgment  day  bring  any  new  information  to  God 
about  the  wickedness  of  men  or  devils?  But  ea  1  a  sound  mind  help  decid- 
ing on  a  subject  when  it  possesses  full  and  perfect  information,  especially 
when  much  depends  upon  an  immediate  decision?  But  the  divinity  of 
Christ   depends  upon  this  infinite  perfection  of  wisdom  and   knowledge,  and 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  31 

the  perfect  correctness  of  his  decisions  and  judgments.  And  the  value  of 
the  atonement  depends  upon  the  perfection  of  his  wisdom  and  knowledge, 
and  the  perfect  correctness  of  his  decisions  and  judgments.  But  it  will 
not  be  denied  that  his  decisions  are  as  much  needed  about  future  events  as 
past.  But  to  decide  and  determine  about  future  events  implies  predestina- 
tion; then  the  value  of  the  atonement  depends  for  its  merit  upon  that  wis- 
dom of  God  which  is  exerted  in  predestination.  How  absurd  to  hold  to 
the  doctrines  of  either  the  divinity  of  Christ  or  the  atonement  and  deny  the 
doctrine  of  predestination." 

The   sermon    on    the    support   of   the    gospel    ministry   is    so 
timely  that  it  might  have  been  preached  but  yesterday : 

I  Cor.,9:14:  "This  is  the  regulation  which  God  established  for  his 
church,  and  those  who  have  altered  this  commandment  and  are  teaching 
men  so  will  one  day  be  called  the  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  if  they 
get  into  the  kingdom  at  all.  Our  Lord  did  not  ask  it  as  a  matter  of  charity 
for  his  ambassadors  that  they  should  have  a  pittance  to  live  upon;  but 
by  the  same  authority  that  he  used  in  instituting  the  gospel  ministry  he  also 
established  the  duty  of  supporting  his  ministering  servants. 
We  shall   endeavor  to  consider  • 

''First — The  reasonableness  of  the  requirement. 

"Second— Upon  whom  it  is  binding  and  the  reciprocal  duties  of  pastor 
and  people.     And, 

"Third — The  serious  results  of  breaking  this  regulation  of  God's 
house. ' ' 

(Here  follows  an  excellent  exhibition  of  God's  sovereign  rights  in  the 
earth,  of  his  provision  for  the  support  of  the  Levite  and  the  Levirate  ordi- 
nances, and  of  the  early  Christians  bringing  their  goods  and  laying  them 
at  the  Apostles '  feet,  which,  he  declares,  ' '  never  was  intended  to  be  a. 
rule  for  the  church  in  after  ages_  yet  it  shows  a  beautiful  spirit  of  confi- 
dence, and  of  a  full  and  complete  surrender  to  God,  not  merely  in  word, 
but  in  heart — giving  themselves  and  property  to  God,  their  rightful 
owner.")  Continuing,  he  said:  "Nor  did  our  Lord  ever  enjoin  this,  but  he 
did  enjoin  it  that  they  that  preach  the  gospel  should  live  of  the  gospel. 
This  is  altogether  reasonable  on  account  of  the  manifold  duties  and  cares 
and  labors  through  which  a  faithful  minister  must  go.  And  if  the  church 
would  be  edified  and  built  up  in  knowledge  and  holiness  she  must  provide 
that  her  ministers  have  time  to  wait  upon  their  ministry.  The  time  was 
when  the  pastoral  union  was  invested  with  a  degree  of  permanency  which 
it  has  now  unhappily  lost.  It  is  our  prayer  that  it  may  speedily  be  re- 
stored. It  was  a  most  sacrilegious  work  which  that  vain,  ambitious  man 
did  when  he,  contrary  to  God,  ordained  that  the  minister  licensed  by  his 
Presbytery  should  preach  without  having  a  pastoral  charge  and  without 
a  support.  He  looked  at  the  church  of  Christ  and  saw  it  an  impregnable 
fortification;  he  then  looked  at  the  prejudices  of  the  Western  people.  He 
saw  he  could  sow  the  seeds  of  disaffection  and  jealousy  from  one  point, 
and  one  only — it  was  the  support  of  the  gospel  ministry.*  Time  has  already 
discovered  the  results  of  what  he  has  done.     But  eternity  alone  will  fully 

*I  do  not  know  to  whom  he  refers  or  whether  this  has  only  a  local 
bearing,  but  some  years  ago  an  honored  elder  in  one  ofthe  churches  of 
this  Presbytery  told  me  that  his  father  had  upbraided  one  of  the  most 
influential  and  godly  pioneers  of  that  county  for  preaching  without  salary, 
because  he  was  sowing  seeds  that  would  bring  forth  a  harvest  disastrous 
to  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  descendants  of  that  pioneer  preacher  are  yet 
prominent  in  that  locality  and  the  prophecy  as  to  the  harvest  has  been 
verified. 


^2  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

show  ali  the  dreadful  evils  resulting  from  his  unscriptura]  and  time-serving 
policy.  [gnorance,  error  and  delusion;  pride,  covetousness,  prejudice  and 
infidelity,  like  the  tail  of  a  comet,  will  follow  in   his  train.     The  preaching 

of  the  gospel,  not  raising  corn  and  feeding  cuttle,  is  the  preeminent  duty 
of  the  gospel  minister.  It  is  expressly  to  preach  the  gospel  that  the  min- 
istry is  instituted.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  living  preacher,  urging  with  all 
the  powers  of  his  heart  and  of  his  utterance  the  love  of  the  Saviour,  and 
the  awful  realities  of  a  future  state,  which  God  blesses  td  the  building  up 
of  his  church.  All  other  duties  should  lie  subservient  to  the  necessary 
preparations  for  preaching  the  gospel.  Hundreds  of  immortal  souls  are 
each  SalTath  assembled  to  hear  the  divine  message.  The  Christian  min- 
ister is  God's  ambassador  to  them.  And  with  whatever  abilities  he  may 
be  endowed  he  must  consecrate  all  to  the  faithful  enforcement  of  religious 
truth.  He  must  diligently  study  so  that  he  may  lie  able  to  bring  nut  o« 
his  storehouse  things  new  and  old.  Logic  should  make  all  the  parts  of  his 
sermon  harmonize,  so  that  one  part  should  not  contradict  another.  Sound 
argument  should  fortify  the  different  parts  of  his  discourse,  and  simplicity, 
childlike  simplicity  <  make  every  part  so  (dear  and  plain  that  a  very  child 
could  understand  it  all;  and  eloquence,  soul-captivating  eloquence — the  elo- 
quence of  an  upright,  earnest  heart — should  carry  every  sentence  of  divine 
truth   home  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his  auditory. 

"How  difficult  this!  Is  it  likely  that  the  man  whose  cares  must  neces- 
sarily be  about  the  concerns  of  a  worldly  employment  will  be  able  to 
preach  the  gospel  aright?  Will  not  his  discourse  on  the  Sabbath  be  either 
cold  and  formal  or  empty  of  soul-nourishing  instruction?  A   man 

with  all'  his  time  is  not  sufficient  for  the  great  work.  The  word  of  truth 
must  be  rightly  divided  so  as  to  give  to  each  his  portion  in  due  season. 
*  Some  of  his  hearers  are  engulfed  in  the  whirlpool  of  a  false 
religion;  some  are  in  the  wild  career  of  utter  ungodliness;  some  deceived 
with  false  hopes,  or  trying  to  deceive  others  with  false  pretenses;  some 
stupid  with  consciences  seared  and  hearts  as  hard  as  marble  or  granite 
rock;  some  tender,  affectionate,  trembling  with  broken  heaits  ard  bruised 
spirits,  feeling  and  sighing  for  God.  To  meet  these  wants  requires  thought. 
And  the  faithful  Christian  minister  must  consecrate  the  best  hours  of  every 
week  to  this  infinitely  arduous  work.  And  yet  he  must  engage  in  other 
studies  besides  immediate  preparation  for  the  pulpit.  He  must  search  the 
Scriptures  in  their  original  languages;  he  must  keep  up  a  general  acquaint- 
ance with  the  literature  and  the  rapidly  advancing  sciences  of  the  day; 
he  must  furnish  his  mind  to  encounter  the  unbeliever  ard  the  errorist  on 
their  own  grounds,  and  to  defend  the  gospel;  he  must  keep  himself  in- 
formed respecting  the  great  moral  movements  of  the  age — he  must  not 
forget  the  mighty  power  of  the  press — that  the  world  demands  a  Chr'stiui 
literature — that  it  is  the  duty  of  some  of  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  to 
supply  this  want.  These  duties  demand  that  at  least  every  movement  of 
the  morning  hours  be  devoted  uninterruptedly  to  study*  These  hours 
should  be  held  sacred  from  any  encroachment.  The  people  should  feel  that 
their  pastor  in  all  his  studies  is  toiling  for  them,  and  they  should  cordially 
co-operate  in  securing  for  him  the  means  of  uninterrupted  appreciation  to 
the  arduous  duties  of   his  office. 

"But  the  minister  must  also  visit  the  people.  Without  this  though, 
he  should  be  ever  so  learned  and  eloquent  he  cannot  be  in  the  highest  de- 
gree useful.  By  personal  acquaintance  alone  he  can  ascertain  the  tempta- 
tions, the  conflicts,  the  trials,  the  spiritual  condition  of  his  people.  He 
must     sacrifice     the      attractions     of    friendship    and      congenial     habits    and 

*This  from  a  man  whose  record  shows  that  he  rode  over  several  coun- 
ties preaching  in  private  houses  as  well  as  in  public  plac<  s. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  3$ 

tastes,  if  need  be,  to  his  duties  as  a  laborious  and  impartial  parish  minis- 
ter, who  must  account  to  God  for  each  soul  entrusted  to  his  care.  And  espe- 
cially wherever  poverty  lays  its  heavy  hand,  or  age  is  crushed  with  infirm- 
ity, or  the  weak  and  suffering  invalid  drags  on  a  miserable  life,  or  the 
widow's  heart  is  bleeding  with  anguish — wherever  there  is  anyone  bowed 
down  beneath  the  burden  of  life,  it  is  there  peculiarly  the  Christian  min- 
ister is  to  go.  And  yet  he  must  not  let  the  time  allotted  to  visiting  his 
members  encroach  upon  the  time  devoted  to  study  and  the  duties  of  the 
closet.  If  he  does  his  congregation  will  be  pretty  apt  to  complain  that 
his  sermons  are  all  alike.  These,  to  say  the  least,  are  the  indispensable 
duties  of  a  good  minister  of  the  gospel^  and  he  who  comes  short  of  any  one 
of  these  duties  is  just  so  far  deficient,  and  lacks  just  that  much  of  being 
a  good  minister.  But  how  can  a  minister  do  all  these  arduous  duties  and 
support  himself  and  family  by  farming  and  teaching,  or  some  other  worldly 
employment.  *  *  *  Hence  it  is  perfectly  reasonable  that  God  should 
demand  at  your  hands  a  comfortable  support  for  his  servants  whom  he 
raises  up  and  sends  among  you  to  preach  the  gospel.  God  's  ways 

are  always  right  and  woe  to  that  wicked  popularity -hunting  preacher  who 
alters  what   God  has  ordained.     *     *     * 

"It    is    everybody's    duty    to    support    the    gospel.  *     And    the 

fact  that  a  man  is  not  a  professor  of  religion  will  be  but  a  poor  excuse 
in  the  day  of  judgment,  for  it  will  be  making  one  sin  an  excuse  for  an- 
other. '.Will  a  man  rob  God?'  says  the  Scriptures,  'but  ye  have  robbed 
me  even  this  whole  nation. '  *  *  *  Here  the  charge  is  not  brought 
against  the  Saints,  but  against  the  whole  nation.  Now,  if  it  had  not  been 
the  duty  of  the  whole  nation,  no  charge  could  have  been  brought  against 
them.  If  a  man  says  I  am  no  professor  of  religion,  if  I  were  I  might 
perhaps  feel  it  a  duty  to  do  something.  This  is  poor  logic.  It  is  as  much 
as  to  say  because  I  wickedly  neglect  to  do  my  duty  therefore  I  will  rob 
God,  my  MaVer,  of  his  just  share  of  the  property  he  has  put  into  my  hands. 
This  is  adding  robbery  to  rebellion.  *  *  *  Throughout  Southwest  Mis- 
souri there  are  whole  churches  who  act  upon  the  principle  that  the  gospel 
may  get  along  the  best  way  it  can!  And  these  all  have  their  influence; 
and  a  most  dreadful  influence  it  is.  It  is  inflicting  a  death  blow  on  the 
intelligence  and  piety  of  the  church.  In  this  work  none  are  excused. 
*  *  *  .  All  have  some  ability.  The  widow  had  two  mites  and  she  threw 
them  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord.  And  she  laid  it  out  well. 
Many   no    doubt   would   have   thought   her   foolish.     *     **  But    the   wis- 

dom of  God  differs  from  the  wisdom  of  this  world.  *     *     It  has  been 

remarked  that  a  heresy  always  begins  among  the  preachers.  The  preachers 
have  done  much  to  ruin  the  church  in  this  our  time.  The  system  in  vogue 
amongst  us  in  this  country  is  to  license  a  minister  with  very  little  educa- 
tion, hoping  he  will  go  on  and  improve  his  mind  after  he  is  licensed.  This 
he  seldom  does_  and  for  several  reasons — first,  because  he  is  licensed  and 
thinks  he  can  get  along  about  as  well  as  the  rest;  and,  second,  he  thinks 
he  has  not  the  time  to  study.  But  the  worst  of  it  all  is,  in  the  third  place, 
he  does  not  know  how  to  study.  *  *  *  having^  never  learned  how  to 
apply  himself  to   books.     *     *     * 

"The  system  as  now  pursued  overburdens  the  church  with  weak  and 
inefficient  ministers,  and  even  if  the  people  felt  some  disposition  to  sup- 
port a  minister  they  become  disheartened;  for,  in  the  first  place,  there  are 
too  many  to  be  supported,  and  in  the  next  place  the  people  feel  that  they 
do  not  get  an  equivalent  for  their  pay — a  harping  on  the  tenderer  feelings 
without  ever  touching  the  understanding  will,  after  a  few  hearings, 
become  insipid  and  uninteresting  to   all  persons   of  sense.     *  Have, 

then,  a  minister — a  workman  that  needeth  not  be  ashamed — enter  into  the 
pastoral   relation   with    him.        And   as  you  are    entitled   to     his    labors,    his 


34  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE   O/.ARKS 

prayers,   his   tears,  his   heart,  so  mi  your  pari   give   him  your  prayers,  your 

sympathies  and  your  attention.     Give  him  of  such  things  .-is  God  gives  you. 

"*  *     But    we   arc   next   to  consider  what    are   the   ruinous   results 

Of  breaking  this  ordination  of  God.  And  III  order  to  sec  it  we  need  only 
to  look  around.  Where  is  the  beloved  Zion  of  God  now.'  Her  ministers 
are  a  elass  of  secular  men.  There  are  none  of  them   that   can  teach   his  brother 

in  the  law  of  the  Lord;  there  are  but   i'''w  houses  of  worship,  and  money  i- 

thoughl  to  lie  too  good  a  thing  to  lie  given  to  the  Lord.  And  the  man  who 
can    rave   and    rant    once    a    fortnight    about    hell    and    heaven    is    just    as    good 

a  preacher  as  any,  because  the  people  have  learned  to  think  bul  little  of 
all  preachers  of  the  gospel;  the  office  lias  so  long  been  degraded  by  weak, 
ignorant  and  often  by  unprincipled  men.  You  may  always  suspect  a  man 
for  a  knave  or  a  hypocrite  who  is  ready  to  suspect  and  charge  every  min- 
ister who  fells  his  dying  fellow  men  of  this  part  of  their  duty  with  money 
hunting.      *      *      * 

''That  man  who  can  build  his  own  house  and  care  nothing  about  the 
Lord's  house  is  but  a  sorry  Christian,  if  he  is  one  at  all.  And  that  man 
who  can  eat  his  sweet  morsels  alone,  without  dividing  it  with  the  Lord's 
servant,  is  hardly  a  Christian.  And  that  minister  of  the  gospel  who  can 
encourage  his  hearers  in  their  covetous  and  selfish  dispositions  will  have  an 
awful  account  to  give.  There  is  an  awful  lack  among  Western  Christians 
on  this  subject,  and  the  entire  blame  of  it  in  the  day  of  judgment  will  rest 
on  the  ministry.  Western  Christians  are  by  nature  just  as  liberal  as  Last 
ern  Christians,  and  if  it  were  properly  inculcated  upon  them  by  their 
preachers  would  do  just  as  much.  Now  when  we  are  in  a  strait  we  call 
upon  our  Eastern  brethren.  And  to  my  certain  knowledge  many  of  those 
Eastern  brethren  are  not  so  wealthy  as  our  Western  brethren.  But  they 
have  had  the  duty  of  giving  liberally  inculcated  upon  them  from  infancy. 
To  give  you  a  specimen.  *The  wealth  in  the  churches  under  the  care  of 
the  Ozark  Presbytery  is  upwards  of  two  millions  of  dollars.  The  natural 
increase  of  this  capital  should  at  least  be  half  a  million^  and  the  one-tenth 
of  this  yearly  increase  would  be  fifty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  devoted  to 
the  Lord.  Instead  of  that,  all  the  churches  under  the  care  of  that  Presby- 
tery do  not  contribute  five  hundred.  This  is  robbing  God  out  of  forty-five 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  In  the  Last  the  ministers  would  tend  to 
this  part  of  their  duty.  They  would  have  meeting  houses  and  school 
houses.  They  would  educate  their  candidates  for  the  ministry  and  get  re- 
spectable men 's  sons  employed  as  teachers  in  their  schools.  And  they 
would  get  and  circulate  useful  books  and  periodicals  among  their  people, 
and  make  collections  besides  for  missionary  purposes,  and  be  none  the 
poorer  for  it.  And  why  is  not  all  this  and  much  more  done  in  the  West? 
The  reason  is  a  plain  one.  That  wicked  system  which  was  put  in  opera- 
tion in  1800  in  the  West  has  brought  upon  the  beloved  Zion  of  God  all 
this  mischief.  It  was  mainly  effected  by  taking  from  the  ministry  that 
reasonable  support  which  the  Lord  ordained  they  should  have,  and,  sec- 
ondly, by  introducing  unfit  men  into  the  ministry.  Such  men  judge  of 
every  measure  by  how  it  takes  with  the  people.  If  it  takes  with  the  people 
all  is  well.  Now,  it  always  will  take  with  many  of  the  people  to  tell 
them  they  are  under  no  obligations  to  give  anything  to  the  Lord.  And 
that  those  who  do  tell  them  so  are  money  hunters.  May  the  Lord  deliver 
the  church   from  all   this  evil." 


*This    refers    to    Ozark    Presbytery    of    the    Cumberland    Church.      Mr. 
Pentzer  was  at  this  time  a  member  of  that  body. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  35 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  RISE  OF  THE  RILLS. 

"Missouri  has  never  been  understood,  and  her  people  have 
been  sweepingly  condemned,  largely  from  the  fact  that  she  was 
made  the  national  football  of  the  slavery  agitation  for  forty- 
eight  consecutive  years.  The  Missouri  Compromise,  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Bill,  the  Border  War  from  '55  to  '60 — these  were  the 
steps  that  led  to  an  alienation  that  never  ceased  to  grow  until  it 
culminated  in  the  fearful  national  baptism  of  blood.  Missouri 
stood  in  the  forefront  of  each  stage  of  this  growing  strife,  not 
because  her  people  were  worse  or  better  than  the  people  of  other 
states,  but  because  of  her  geographical  position.  Being  thus  re- 
lated to  the  causes  leading  to  the  civil  conflict,  it  is  but  natural 
that  Missouri  should  suffere  more  than  any  other  State.  Two- 
third  of  her  people  being  Southern  born,  and  inclosed  on  three 
sides  by  Republican  States,  her  people  were  compelled  to  take 
sides,  and  taking  sides  soon  forced  all  her  people  into  one  army 
or  the  other."* 

The  traditional  reputation  of  Presbyterians  for  being  men  of 
conviction  that  would  force  them  to  take  sides,  the  completeness 
of  the  organic  life  of  the  denomination  that  made  a  disruption 
more  inevitable  and  disastrous,  and  the  fact  that  the  home 
mission  revenues  came  largely  from  the  North  and  East  rendered 
the  devastations  of  the  Civil  War  more  complete  in  the  Presby- 
terian ranks  than  in  that  of  other  denominations. 

THE  SECOND  OSAGE  PRESBYTERY. 

In  an  address  delivered  before  Synod  at  Kirksville  October. 
1888,  Dr.  George  Miller  said:  "Our  Synod  outside  of  St.  Louis 
virtually  dates  from  the  Civil  War.  For  years  after  the  Civil 
War  our  statistical  reports  were  filled  with  old  reports  of 
churches  that  had  become  extinct  or  gone  into  the  Southern 
Synod  years  before.     From  the  best  of  my  knowledge  we  got  ni 

*" Missouri's  Memorable  Decade,"  by  Dr.  George  Miller.     Pp.  3-4. 


36  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

'65  from  the  old  organizations:  From  Palmyra  Presbytery, 
about  300  members;  from  Kansas  City  and  Ozark,  about  100 
members;  from  Platte  Presbytery,  aboul  300  members;  from  St. 
Louis,  about  1.200.  Total  Old  School.  1,900.  'Plic  New  School 
Synod  reports  1,323  members  in  I8u'li.  Total  for  the  State,  3.223." 
It  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  Miller  uses  the  names  of  later  date  for 
the  Presbytery.  The  statement  "Kansas  City  and  Ozark,  loo 
members,  indicates  how  nearly  extinct  the  work  was."  Yet 
the  work  of  the  New  School  branch  was  even  yet  less  pros- 
perous. 

"By  previous  arrangement  those  interested  in  organizing  a 
Presbytery  on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  former  Osage  Pres- 
bytery met  in  the  Cave  Springs  Church  (Mount  Zion)  April  26, 
1866."  W.  S.  Messmer  preached  from  Mark  11:22." 

Three  ministers  and  three  churches  were  enrolled,  viz : 
Revs.  A.  6.  Taylor,  of  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis:  J.  M.  Brown, 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Bloomington.  and  W.  S.  Messmer,  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Utica.  Churches — Mount  Zion,  represented  by 
Elder  John  R.  Lee,  Springfield,  represented  by  Elder  David  Ap- 
pleby, and  Clinton.  Mount  Zion  had  about  25  members,  Spring- 
field 11*.  and  Clinton  7.  A.  G.  Taylor  was  elected  Moderator.  W. 
S.  Messmer  Temporary  Clerk,  and  J.  M.  Brown  Stated  Clerk. 

This  first  meeting  of  Presbytery  appointed  committees  on 
home  missions  and  on  education,  levied  a  tax  of  50  cents  per 
minister  and  church  (probably  communicant)  ;  licensed  E.  M 
Halbert  and  appointed  a  committe  to  draft  a  memorial  on  the 
moral  destitution  in  Southwest  Missouri. 

The  second  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Prairie 
Grove  (Springfield  Church)  September  14.  1866.  The  same  min- 
isters were  present  and  the  same  churches  represented  by  elders 
— Mount  Zion  by  W.  E.  Thompson  and  Springfield  by  —  With- 
erspoon.  At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  Bible  Society 
Agent  spoke,  and  it  was  reported  that  $69.15  had  been  contrib- 
uted by  the  churches  that  year  to  the  Bible  Society. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  is  more  than  the  Presbytery 
contributes  annually  now  ! 

Salem  and  Warsaw  churches,  both  beyond  our  bounds,  were 
enrolled  at  this  meeting  of  Presbytery. 

The  difficulties  that  confronted  the  Presbytery  are  set  forth 
in  this  communication  from  the  Presbyterian  Reporter: 

I'll  mi   Rev.   John  M.   Brown. 

Ash  Grove,  Mo.,  April  11,  1X67. 
Dear  Brother  Norton: — T  returned    last   evening  from    meeting  of  Pres- 
bytery, having  traveled  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  on  horseback,  through 

*This  church  was  in  the  country — a  locality  known  as  Prairie  Grove. 
It    is   now  the   Bellevne   Church. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  37 

mud  and  rain  and  then  found  no  quorum,  and,  of  course,  we  could  transact 
no  business.  On  my  way  I  spent  a  Sabbath  at  Deepwater,  and  preached 
twice  to  a  small  but  attentive  audience.  The  weather  was  cold  and  the 
roads  horrible,  but  I  thought  that  if  I  could  ride  eighty  miles  in  two  days 
through,  not  over,  such  roads  to  preach  the  egospel  the  people  might  ride 
one  mile  to  hear  it.  But  perhaps  I  was  mistaken.  Yet  Deepwater  is  a 
promising  field  and  will  well  repay  cultivation.  It  is  to  be  a  station  on 
the  Sedalia  &  Fort  Scott  Eailroad.  At  Deepwater  I  heard  of  Rev.  W.  C. 
Requa,  a  member  of  the  old  Osage  Presbyter}',  and  also  learned  that  he 
had  not  connected  with  any  other  ecclesiastical  body,  and  of  course  would 
fall  to  our  new  Osage  Presbytery.  I  thought  I  had  caught  sight  of  a 
quorum,  and  so  posted  off  on  a  fide  of  forty  miles  to  bring  it  in.  I  found 
Bro.  Requa,  and  what  was  better,  found  him  loyal  to  his  country  and  his 
church,  but  circumstances  were  such  that  he  could  not  attend  the  meeting 
of  Presbytery.  Thus  our  quorum  faded  into  the  future,  like  the  ministers 
we  were  to  have  in  Southwest  Missouri.  I  got  a  kind  welcome,  however, 
and  a  promise,  and  with  that  started  on  a  ride  of  fifty  miles  to  Salem — 
Salem  is  the  name  of  a  church,  not  a  town.  Had  the  same  company  as 
heretofore,  viz.,  rain  and  mud,  to  which  was  added  before  reaching  Salem 
Mr.  Ague  for  myself  and  Mr.  Weariness  for  my  horse.  At  Salem  I  in- 
quired for  Osage  Presbytery.  No  one  knew  anything  about  it.  Rode  six 
miles  into  the  country,  found  an  elder,  but  he  knew  nothing  of  the  meet- 
ing_  but  at  last  remembered  that  Bro.  Messmer  had  said  something  about 
a  meeting  of  Presbytery  this  spring,  but  had  forgotten  both  the  time  and 
place  of  meeting.  After  supper  and  a  little  rest  for  myself  and  hoi"se,  I 
rode  two  miles  to  the  church.  I  found  the  old  meeting  house  deserted,  the 
doors  ajar,  the  storm  beating  in,  and  the  plastering  gone.  I  waited  here 
two  long  hours  in  the  cold  and  darkness  with  no  company  but  a  little  bird 
that  had  made  its  home  in  the  deserted  house,  and  my  old  friend,  the  ague. 
1  will  not  attempt  to  describe  my  feelings  and  thoughts  during  those  two 
hours.  Suffice  it  to  say  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  advertise  for  the  re- 
mains of  the  Osage  Presbytery,  desiring  to  be  present  at  its  burial,  as  I 
was  present  at  its  birth  one  year  before.  With  this  solemn  resolve  full  in 
mind,  I  was  about  to  mount  my  horse  and  seek  my  lodgings,  when  the 
sound  of  voices  approaching  through  the  darkness  brought  me  to  a  halt, 
and  soon  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Bro.  Taylor,  Bro.  Halbert,  a  licen- 
tiate, and  Bro.  Perry,  elder  from  Warsaw.  Of  course  we  could  do  nothing 
but  talk  a  little  and  adjourn.  We  spent  the  Sabbath  with  the  good  people 
of  Salem,  preaching  to  them  and  administering  the  sacrament  On  Sabbath 
we  had  a  full  house  and  very  good  attention.  The  result  of  our  meeting 
at  Salem  is  that  the  church  seems  very  much  revived  and  encouraged,  and 
a  call  to  our  licentiate,  E.  M.  Halbert,  to  settle  with  them.  This  he  ex- 
pects to  do  with  a  promise  of  great  usefulness.  Bro.  Halbert  is  doing 
finely.  He  is  to  preach  at  Salem  (Calhoun  is  his  postoffice),  Warsaw  and 
two  outstations.  We  are  to  have  a  called  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  Butler, 
the  county  seat  of  Bates  County,  on  Friday,  May  3d,  to  continue  over 
Sabbath.  Bro.  S.  G.  Clark  has  recently  organized  a  church  at  Butler.  I 
hope  we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Bro.  Norton  and  that  other 
brother  who  has  been  so  long  on  the  way  to  Southwest  Missouri. 

With  some  difficulty  a  quorum  was  finally  obtained  on  the 
second  day  of  the  called  meeting  at  Butler,  viz.,  Saturday,  May 

4th.  1867. 

But  the  regular  meeting  at  Cave  Springs,  October  10th,  was 
not  so  successful.  Presbytery  adjourned  from  day  to  day  until 
finally.  Saturday,  October  12th,  they  deckled  to  proceed  without 


38  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

a  quorum  subject  to  the  approval  of  Synod.  A  quorum  was  then 
obtained  by  the  ordination  of  E.  M.  Halbert,  after  which  L.  J. 
Matthews  was  licensed.  The  Secretary  of  (he  Presbyterian  Com- 
mittee of  Home  Missions,  Rev.  A.  T.  Norton,  was  present  at  this 
meeting  of  Presbytery,  and,  though  not  a  member  of  the  body, 
seems  to  have  offered  most  of  the  resolutions. 

The  following  resolutions  are  worthy  of  note: 

(1)  That  the  subject  of  reunion  with  the  other  branch  calls 
for  no  Presbyterial  action  at  the  present  time,  yet  we  would  not 
withhold  our  earnest,  prayerful  desire  that  the  great  event  may 
be  consummated  substantially  on  the  basis  set  forth  by  the  joint 
committee  of  the  two  assemblies. 

(2)  That  we  approve  of  the  decision  cf  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  raise  $250,000  for  the  cause  of  home  missions  the  present 
year,  and  though  we  are  emphatically  a  Missionary  Presbytery, 
all  of  our  churches  receiving  aid  from  the  Home  .Mission  Treas- 
ury, and  reporting  to  the  last  Assembly  only  113  members,  yet 
we  pledge  ourselves  to  make  an  honest  and  earnest  effort  to  raise 
for  this  cause  the  present  year  at  least  $200,  which  will  be  our 
portion  of  the  $250,000." 

Where  is  the  Missouri  Presbytery  today  that  would  have 
the  temerity  to  pledge  itself  "to  make  an  honest  and  earnest 
effort  to  raise  for  this  cause"  a  fraction  less  than  ^1 .77  per 
communicant  ? 

From  this  date  the  growth  of  the  Presbytery  was  more 
marked  in  the  northern  part.  Churches  were  organized  or  reor- 
ganized there  rapidly,  and  thus  the  logic  of  events  paved  tin1 
way  for  that  part  of  the  Presbytery  to  retain  the  name  and  the 
succession,  while  its  churches  in  the  southern  part  were  to  bo 
transferred  to  the  Ozark  Presbytery.  This  order  was  reversed  in 
the  old  school  work.  The  burning  question  of  the  hour  was  the 
reunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  church.  The  Presbyteries  of 
Osage  and  Southwest  Missouri  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  vote 
heartily  in  favor  of  that  proposition.  By  special  invitation  the 
Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  met  with  the  Presbytery  of 
Osage  in  the  Mount  Zion  Church  August,  1869. 

The  new  house  of  worship  had  just  been  completed  and  was 
dedicated  at  this  session  of  Presbytery  with  a  sermon  by  Dr. 
Timothy  Hill.  Text,  "The  Church  of  God."  (Acts,  20:28.)  The 
dedicatory  services  were  held  Sunday,  August  22d. 

The  opening  sermon  of  the  Presbytery  was  preached  August 
lf)th  by  Rev.  B.  P.  Powelson,  retiring  Moderator  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Southwest  Missouri.  The  new  building,  with  its  two 
stories,  was  admirably  adapted  to  accommodate  the  sessions  of 
the  two  bodies.  Devotional  exercises  and  popular  meetings  were 
held   jointly,    whilst    the   business   of   the   respective    bodies   was 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  39 

transacted  in  separate  sessions.  The  spirit  of  unity  that  pre- 
vailed was  like  that  precious  ointment  that  ran  down  Aaron's 
beard.  The  members  of  the  one  body  were  invited  to  sit  as  cor- 
responding members  of  the  other  and  joint  committees  deliber- 
ated on  questions  of  interest  to  both  bodies.  It  was  decided  to 
hold  another  joint  session  at  the  time  of  the  annual  meeting — 
the  spring  meeting  was  then  called  the  annual  meeting  and  the 
autumn  meeting  was  called  the  semi-annual  meeting.  The 
Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  was  requested  to  name  the 
place  for  the  meeting  and  that,  body  selected  the  Deepwater 
Church.  Accordingly,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1870,  Presbytery 
convened  at  Germantown '  in  the  Deepwater  Church,  and  was 
opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  retiring  Moderator  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Southwest  Missouri,  William  R.  Fulton.  The  same  spirit 
of  harmony  prevailed  in  the  deliberations  of  these  joint  sessions 
as  had  been  the  delight  of  both  at  Cave  Springs.  It  appears 
that  at  this  time  Presbytery  had  standing  committees  on  (1) 
Home  Missions,  (2)  Education  for  the  Ministry,  (3)  Publication, 
(4)  Church  Erection.  This  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  second 
Presbytery  of  Osage.  I  find  no  mention  in  its  annals  of  the  sub- 
ject of  temperance.  It  appears  to  have  had  no  case  of  discipline 
or  no  occasion  for  a  judicial  committee.  Nor  does  it  appear  to 
have  had  a  Committee  on  Foreign  Missions.  Of  its  thirteen 
churches  the  new  Presbytery  of  Osage  got  eight  and  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ozark  five,  viz:  Mount  Zion,  Prairie  Grove,  i.  e., 
Springfield,  now  Bellview ;  White  Rock,  Licking  and  Peace  Val- 
ley. Three  of  these  have  "fallen  on  sleep."  The  membership  of 
the  five  churches  at  the  time  of  the  reunion  was  only  100. 

PRESBYTERY   OF   SOUTHWEST   MISSOURI. 

In  1865  the  following  overture  was  sent  to  the  Old  School 
Assembly : 

"Whereas,  owing  to  the  ravages  of  war  in  Southwestern  Missouri  and 
the  difficulties  of  securing  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lafayette_  this 
Assembly  direct: 

First — That  the  following  ministers  residing  within  the  limits  of  said 
Presbytery,  viz:  Wm.  R.  Fulton,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri; 
Wm.  J.  Wright  (U.  S.  Chaplain  of  Hospital,  Springfield,  Mo.),  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  John  McFarland,  of  said  Presbytery 
of  Lafayette,  together  with  all  the  churches  south  of  the  Osage  River,  and 
formerly  belonging  to  said  Presbytery  of  Lafayette,  be  constituted  a  Pres- 
bytery under  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri;  and  that 
John  Giffen,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chicago  and  residing  within 
said   bounds  be   attached   thereto. 

Second — That  said  Presbytery  shall  meet  in  the  city  of  Springfield  on 
the  third  Thursday  in  June  1865,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  practicable,  and 
the  meeting  shall  be  opened  by  the  oldest  minister  present. 


40  Presbytbrianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Third — That  said  Presbytery  shall  be  attached  to  the  Synod  of  Mis- 
souri. 

The  prayer  of  this  petition  was  granted  with  the  exception 
that  the  Presbytery  was  to  be  attached  to  the  Synod  of  Upper 
Missouri,  and  John  McFarland  was  designated  to  preach  the 
sermon  and  constitute  the  Presbytery. 

At  the  time  appointed  the  program  as  outlined  was  carried 
out.  The  three  ministers  and  the  one  licentiate  were  present, 
and  Elders  James  Mitchell,  of  Ebenezer  Church,  and  George 
Lee,  of  Calvary,  were  enrolled.  The  following  day  Elder  John 
A.  Strain  was  enrolled. 

The  roll  of  churches  consisted  of  Calvary,  Ebenezer,  .Mount 
Vernon  (later  changed  to  Ozark  Prairie),  and  Bolivar.  This  roll 
was  rapidly  enlarged  by  the  resuscitation  of  churches  that  were 
practically  disbanded,  as  well  as  by  the  organization  of  new 
churches.  Some  of  these  churches  were  erected  on  the  ruins  of 
former  New  School  churches.  But  while  the  new  Osage  Presby- 
tery directed  its  energies  to  the  southeastern  part  of  our  terri- 
tory and  to  the  territory  north  of  us  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest 
Missouri  labored  more  largely  in  the  western  part  and  opened 
up  that  territory  that  has  since  become  famous  as  the  mining 
region  of  Southwest  Missouri.  Hence,  while  the  New  School 
Presbytery  of  Osage  bequeatheed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  at 
its  organization  four  ministers  and  live  churches,  with  aboul 
one  hundred  communicants,  the  Presbtery  of  Southwest  Mis- 
souri bequeathed  it  six  ministers,  thirteen  churches  and  nearly 
450  communicants.  During  the  five  years  of  the  eistence  of 
this  Presbytery  it  ordained  four  ministers,  as  follows:  John 
Giffen,  June  24,  1865;  S.  M.  Irwin,  November  25,  18(50;  B.  F. 
Powelson,  September  5,  1868,  and  Austin  Elliott,  April  16,  1S70. 
The  enviable  distinction  belongs  to  this  Presbytery  of  having 
required  of  every  candidate  for  ordination  the  full  examination 
prescribed  in  the  form  of  government. 

John  Giffen  was  elected  Stated  Clerk  and  on  his  dismission 
from  the  Presbytery  Rev.  James  A.  Paige  was  elected  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  In  1866  the  boundaries  of  the  Presbytery  were  ex- 
tended, as  the  following  entry  of  November  24th  will  show: 

"The  action  of  Synod  extending  the  boundaries  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Southwest  Missouri  so  as  to  include  the  counties  of  Henry  and  Bates,  and 
attaching  to  the  same  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Jones  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Paige,  was  officially 
announced  to  Presbytery  by  the  latter  as  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Synod  of 
Missouri.  This  territory  of  the  Southwest  Missouri  Presbytery  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  at  the  reunion  of  1870." 

The  general  conditions  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  and 
its  opsition  on  the  subject  of  the  reunion  of  the  old  and  new 
school  churches  have  been  sufficiently  stated  in  the  sketch  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Osage. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  41 


CHAPTER  III. 


OZARK  PRESBYTERY  1870-1907. 

The  Synod  of  Missouri,  assembled  by  order  of  General  As- 
sembly, in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  July  7th,  1870,  passed  an  enabling 
act  which  in  as  far  as  it  relates  to  this  Presbytery  is  ?»s  follows: 

' '  The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  is  hereby  erected  to  consist  of  the  minis- 
ters and  churches  in  the  counties  of  Vernon,  Barton,  Jasper,  Newton,  Mc- 
Donald, Barry,  Lawrence,  Dade,  Cedar,  Hickory,  Polk  Greene,  Christian, 
Stone,  Taney,  Webster,  Dallas,  Camden,  Laclede,  Wright,  Douglas,  Howell, 
Texas,  Pulaski  and  Ozark.  It  shall  meet  at  the  church  at  Greenfeld  on 
the  29th  day  of  September,  1S70,  at  7:30  p.  m.,  Rev.  J.  McFarland  to 
preside,  or  in  his  absence,  the  oldest  minister  present,  to  preside  until 
a  Moderator  is  chosen.  And,  furthermore,  this  Presbytery  of  Ozark  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  the  proper  and  legal  sucessor  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Southwest  Missouri,  and  as  such  is  entitled  to  all  the  right,  franchises  and 
possessions,  and  liable  for  the  performance  of  all  the  duties  of  that  Pres- 
bytery. The  following  ministers  and  churches  are  included  in  the  Presby- 
tery of  Osage  as  constituted  by  this  act:  Ministers — John  McFarland,  W. 
R.  Fulton,  James  A.  Paige,  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  John  M.  Brown,  Albert  G. 
Taylor,  Enos  M.  Halbert.  L.  J.  Matthews,  —  Elliott — 9.  Churches — Boli- 
var, Urbana,  Ebenezer,  Mount  Vernon,  Avilla,  Calvary,  Panther  Creek, 
Carthage,  Neosho,  Springfield,  Peace  Valley,  Licking  White  Rock,  Houston, 
Lamar,  Mount  Zion — 16." 

A  printed  copy  of  this  enabling  act  is  posted  in  the  Records 
of  Ozark  Presbytery,  Book  A.  I  have  copied  the  above  as  it  is 
printed  mindful  of  the  fact  that  the  word  "Osatje"  as  given 
above  is  a  misprint  for  "Ozark."  On  the  dash  before  the  name 
"Elliott"  some  clerk  has  written  the  name  "Austin,"  and 
after  the  number  9  has  inserted  "J.  Howard  Nixon."  The  clerk 
was  correct  in  these  additions  to  the  printed  enabling  act.  The 
Elliott  referred  to  was  Rev.  Austin  Elliott,  and  as  Dr.  Nixon 
was  then  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  his 
name  should  have  been  included  in  the  enabling  act.  Of  these 
ten  ministers,  Revs.  John  McFarland,  W.  R.  Fulton,  -lames  A. 
Paige,  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  Austin  W.  Elliott  and  J.  Howard  Nixon 
belonged  to  the  Old  School  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri, 
whilst  John  M.  Brown,  Albert  Gr.  Taylor,  Enns  M.  1  [albert  ?nd 
L.  J.  Matthews  belonged  to  the  New  School  Presbytery  of  Osage. 


42 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


Iii  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  Synod,  the  newly  erected 
Presbytery  of  Ozark  was  convened  in  Greenfield  September  29th- 
Oetober  1st.  L870.  By  request  Rev.  James  A.  Paige,  of  Calvary 
Church,  preached  the  opening  sermon,  texl  Colossians  1  :L,S.  af- 
ter which  the  appointee  <»!'  Synod,  Rev.  John  McParland,  con- 
stituted Presbytery  with  prayer.  Mr.  MtaFarland  was  elected 
Moderator  and  Rev.  Enos  M.  Balberi  Temporary  Clerk.  Later  in 
the  proceedings  Rev.  James  A.  Paige  w;is  elected  the  first  Stated 
clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  To  the  ten  ministers  mentioned  above 
the  r<»ll  adds  the  mime  of  \V.  II.  Downing.  It  appears  that  Mr. 
Downing  was  received  by  letter  from  the  Presbytery  of  Catawba 
the  second  day  of  this  first  session  of  the  Presbytery. 

Instead  of  the  sixteen  churches  of  the  enabling  act,  the 
minutes  of  the  Presbytery  mention  twenty-five.  Nineteen  of 
these  are  written  in  ink  and  the  rest  in  pencil,  but  manifestly  by 
the  same  hand,  though  probably  at  a  later  date.  These  investi- 
gations have  left  two  impressions  on  my  mind — first  a  little  less 
impatience  with  the  higher  critics,  then  a  deeper  conviction  of 
the  importance  of  clearness  in  the  matter  of  chnrch  records.  By 
putting  the  two  lists  in  parallel  columns  I  shall  endeavor  to  har- 
monize them  and  to  account  for  the  additions  and  changes: 


LIST   IN   ENABLING    ACT. 
1 — Bolivar  Polk  County 


2 — Urbana Dallas  County 

8 — Ebenezer       ...       Greene  County 

l      Mi.    Vernan      .Lawrence  County 

5 — Avilla Jasper  County 

G — Calvary  .       Greene  County 

7      Panther  Creek      Laclede  County 

8 — Carthage   Jasper  Courity 

!'     Neosho  Newton  County 

le     Springfield.  I  Later  called   Bell- 
view)    .  Greene  County 


LIST   IN   MINUTKS   ul'    PKKsllV- 
TEEY. 

1 — Bolivar.  (Written  in  pencil; 
ordered  stricken  from  roll  of 
Southwest  Missouri  Presby- 
tery April  14,  1870,  but  con- 
tinued mi  enabling  act.  Re- 
ported as  organized  in  min- 
utes   of    March    31,    1871.) 

2 — Urbana. 

3 — Ebenezer. 

4 — Ozark  Prairie.  (Name  changed 
from  Mt.  Vernon  at  first 
meeting  of  Presbytery.  Rec- 
ord  A.  ]>.   61.) 

5— Avilla. 

6 — Calvary. 

■  onway.      (Changed    from    Pan- 
ther ('reek.     Record  A.  p.  59.) 

8 — Carthage. 

9 — Neosho. 

10— Springfield.      (Later   called   Bell- 
view.) 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


43 


11 — Peace    Valley Howell    County 

12 — Licking Texas   County 

13— White   Rock Texas   County 

14 — Houston.      (Not      in      minutes 

Texas    County 

15 — Lamar.       (Xot     in     first     min 
utes     and     not     on     roll     of 
Presbytery    anwhere.) 
Barton    County 

16 — Mt.    Zion Greene    County 


11 — Peace    Valley. 

12— Licking. 
13— White    Rock. 


(Evidently  nearly  extinct,  but 
in  existence,  as  McFarland, 
Fulton  and  Pinkerton  were 
appointed  March  2,  1871,  to 
visit.  Record  A.  p.  65.  Re- 
ported nothing  encouraging. 
Record  A,  p.   70.) 

14— Mt.  Zion. 

15 — Little  Osage,  Vernon  County. 
(The  trainers  of  the  enabling 
act  evidently  thought  this 
ehurch  in  another  county  and 
assigned  it  to  Osage  Presby- 
tery, but  the  first  roll  of 
Ozark  includes  it,  and  it  is 
given  in  the  list  of  churches 
not  represented  Oct.  6th.  Rec- 
ord A,  p.  69.) 

16 — Bethel.    (Probably  omitted   from 
enabling    act    because    another 
church  of  the  same  name  was 
assigned      to     Osage     Presby- 
tery.  That  Bethel  was  in  ('ass 
County.       This     one     in     Polk 
County,     near     StrRins'     Mill. 
and   belonged    to    the   Presby- 
tery  of    Southwest    Missouri.) 
17 — Locsut      Grove.       (Belonged      to 
Presbytery  of  Southwest   Mis- 
souri;     located     at     Diamond 
Grove      Prairie,      in      Xewton 
County.        Afterwards      called 
.    Westminster.       Now    extinct.) 
18 — Minersyille.      [Belonged   to  Pres- 
bytery of  Southwest  Missouri. 
Located      in     Jasper     County. 
Afterwards    dissolved.) 
19— Granby,      in      Xewton      County. 
(Nearly   extinct   at    the    time, 
as  a  committee  was  appointed 
Oct,    1.    1870,    to    "see    to    the 
protection    or    sale    of    proper- 
ty."     Belonged      to      Presby- 
tery of  Southwest    Masouri.) 
20 — Nevada.      (Same  as  note  in  this 
coin. tin    about    Lamar   Church. 
Cf.   Records  A.  pp.  6.1-70.    En- 
rolled   Seot.    14.    1872;    organ- 
ized   by    Rev.    W.    R.    Fulton. 
Record   A,  pp.   84-95.)    Vernon 
Countv. 


44 


PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE    (  )/,\RKS 


21 — Pierce  City.  |  Not  organize-] 
until  Jan.  22,  1871,  therefore 
does  not  belong  on  original 
roll.)     Lawrence  County. 

22 — Verona.  (Organized  March  26, 
1871.  N.  B. — Note  on  Pierce 
City.)      Lawrence    County. 

23 — Logan.  (Organized  March,  1^71. 
Sec  above.)  Lawrence  Coun- 
ty. 

24 — Buffalo.  (No  date  of  organiza- 
tion, but  enrolled  same  as 
Nos.  21-23,  i.  e.,  March  31, 
1871.)      Dallas   County. 

25 — Mountain  Grove.  (Same  note 
as  Buffalo  applies.)  Wright 
County. 

From  these  notes  it  will  be  seen  that  three  of  the  churches 
mentioned  in  the  enabling  act,  Bolivar,  Houston  and  Lamar,  were 
extinct  when  Presbytery  convened.  By  dropping  these  and  the 
churches  added  to  the  roll  later  we  get  the  actual  roll  of  the 
Presbytery  at  its  organization,  as  follows: 

A.  Churches  in  the  enaabling  act  and  in  the  first  minutes: 

NAME.  AFFILIATION.  PRESENT  STATUS. 

1— Urbana   Old  School  United   with   Buffalo. 

2 — Ebenezer    Old  School  On  present  roll. 

3— Mount   Vernon   Old  School  Now  Ozark  Prairie. 

4— Avilla    Old  School  Now  White   Oak. 

5 — Calvary Old  School  On  present  roll. 

6 — Panther   Creek   Old  School  Now  Conway. 

7 — Carthage    Old  School  On  present  roll. 

8 — Neosho    Old  School  On  present  roll. 

9 — Springfield   New  School  Now  Bellview. 

10 — Peace  Valley New  School  Dropped  probably  in  fa- 
vor of  West  Plains. 

11- — Licking    New  School  Dissolved. 

12— White   Rock   New  School  Dissolved. 

13 — Mount   Zion New  School  On  present  roll. 

B.  Churches  in  minutes,  but  not  in  enabling  act :     , 

14— Bethel Old  School  Dissolved. 

15 — Locust   Grove   Old  School  Dissolved. 

16 — Minersville Old  School Dissolved. 

17 — Granby    .Old  School  Dissolved. 

18— Little  Osage  Old  School  Dissolved. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  45 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  of  these  eighteen  churches  ten  are 
still  on  our  role,  five  by  the  same,  three  with  different  names 
and  two  by  union  with  other  churches  of  later  organization. 

The  territory  assigned  to  Ozark  Presbytery  in  the  enabling 
act  embraced  twenty-five  counties  in  Southwest  Missouri.  Pu- 
laski County  has  since  been  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis,  Vernon  County  and  a  portion  of  the  northwest  corner  of 
Cedar  County  and  that  part  of  Camden  County  lying  north  of 
the  Osage  River  to  Kansas  City  Presbytery.  Meantime  a  large 
portion  of  the  State  of  Arkansas  has  been  added  to  our  domain. 
At  the  semi-centennial  of  the  Ebenezer  Church  in  1892  Rev.  W. 
S.  Knight,  D.  D..  said : 

' '  The  territory  embraced  in  the  bounds  of  our  Presbytery  includes 
twenty-four  counties  in  this  southwest  part  of  the  State  (N.  B. — This  em- 
braces Pulaski  County,  but  not  Vernon),  and  has  a  geographical  area  of 
about  16,000  square  miles,  or  just  about  one-quarter  of  the  entire  State. 
To  gain  an  idea  of  what  such  an  area  embraces,  it  will  help  us  to  consider 
that  you  could  put  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Jersey  inside  of 
our  bounds.  And  surely  this  vast  rich  territory  would  support  ali  the 
population  of  the  older  States,  and  you  would  then  have,  instead  of  the 
415,000  we-now  have,  more  than  three  and  a  quarter  millions,  with  its  great 
cities  like  Boston,  Worcester,  Lowell,  Cambridge,  Newark,  Jersey  City, 
Patterson;  its  great  institutions,  such  as  Princeton,  Harvard  (1636),  Am- 
herst, Williams,  Wellesley,  Mount  Holyoke;  its  great  names,  the  Adamses, 
Webster,  Choate,  Sumner,  Everett,  Philips,  in  national  affairs;  Morse  and 
Agassiz,  in  science;  its  historians,  Bancroft,  Prescott  and  Motley;  in  letters 
Dana,  Longfellow,  Whittier,  Lowell,  Hawthorne  and  numerous  others.  But 
whose  history  runs  through  more  than  two  and  a  half  centuries,  and  while 
this  territory  was  an  unknown  wilderness.  Think  of  the  wonderful  possi- 
bilities that  lie  open  to  those  who  are  living  and  shall  live  within  the 
bounds  of  this  Presbytery.  With  a  fertile  soil  that  is  so  productive  in 
grain  and  fruit,  and  genial  climate  between  the  rigorous  winters  of  the 
North  and  the  hot,  sultry  climate  of  the  South;  with  its  vast  stores  of 
wealth  that  are  proved  to  be  under  the  soil,  and  that  are  already  attracting 
the  attention  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the  land;  what  wfl?  those  who 
shall  celebrate  the  centennial  of  this  church  see  in  this  very  territory  of 
which  we  are  now  speaking?  "Verily,  the  lines  are  fallen  unto  us  in  pleas- 
ant places  and  we  have  a  goodly  heritage,  in  common  with  all  who  are 
laboring  for  the  moral  and  material  upbuilding  of  this  fair  domain.  But 
now  let  us  look  at  it  as  a  Presbyterian  heritage.  And  in  this  the  history 
practically  covers  but  a  little  over  twenty-five  years.  I  find  after  the  scat- 
tered forces  had  reorganized  that  all  numbered  in  1866  only  four  ministers, 
seven  churches  and  163  members,  with  forty  in  Sunday  school,  which  in- 
creased up  to  the  time  I  entered  the  Presbytery,  just  seventeen  years 
ago,  to  thirteen  ministers,  twenty-eight  churches,  895  members,  505  in  Sun- 
day school.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one  self-sustaining  church  in  the 
Presbytery,  that  of  Calvary,  and  there  had  been  but  four  installed  pastors, 
the  first  of  whom  was  Eev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  pastor  of  this  church.  Now  there 
are   five   installed  pastors  and  five  self-sustaining   churches." 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  this  address  Dr.  Knight  goes  back  to 
the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri.  Else- 
where in  the  address  he  says  that  of  the  four  ministers  "two  were 


46  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

the  Rev.  W.  R.  Pulton  and  John  McFarland,  whose  homes  were 
in  Greenfield.  At  that  time  your  church  of  Ebenezer  was  the 
Largest  in  the  Presbytery,  numbering  40." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  as  late  as  1892  we  only  had  five 
installed  pastors  and  five  self-sustaining  churches. 

FIRST  DECADE— 1870-1879. 

The  Old  School  Presbytery  of  Southwesl  .Missouri  reported 
in  1870  seven  members,  thirteen  churches  and  450  members,  or 
omitting  that  part  of  the  Presbtery  thai  fell  to  Osage,  six  minis- 
ters, twelve  churches  and  432  members.  Osage  Presbytery  New 
School  reported  seven  ministers,  thirteen  churches  and  290  mem- 
bers. Of  these,  four  ministers,  tive  churches  and  100  members 
were  in  the  territory  assigned  to  Ozark  Presbytery,  or  a  com- 
bined force  of  ten  ministers,  sixteen  churches  and  532  members. 
The  first  report  of  the  reunited  church  shows  eleven  ministers, 
twenty-four  churches  and  630  members.  Certainly  a  small  force 
for  so  large  a  heritage. 

A  GLANCE  AT  THE  WORKIXO   FORCE. 

Adding  to  those  enrolled  at  the  organization  of  the  Presby- 
tery the  names  of  the  ministers  received  during  the  decade,  we 
find  a  total  enrollment  of  thirty-six  ministers.  Of  these  one  was 
received  on  what  proved  to  be  fraudulent  papers  and  his  recep- 
tion was  afterward  declared  to  be  null  and  void.  Another  was 
invited  to  sit  as  a  corresponding  member  and  his  name  appears 
on  the  roll  of  the  Presbytery  and  in  the  Assembly  minutes  of 
1873.  But  there  is  no  record  of  his  reception  or  his  dismissal  by 
Presbytery.  It  is  probable  that  he  supplied  one  of  our  churches 
for  a  few  months  and  that  his  name  was  put  on  the  roll  through 
mistake.  This  leaves  us  a  ministerial  roll  of  thirty-four.  Five  of 
these,  Revs.  \V.  R.  Pulton,  A.  W.  Eliott.  A.  G.  Taylor.  Enos  M. 
llalbert  and  L.  J.  Matthews,  were  on  the  roll  the  whole  periocl; 
but  only  W.  R.  Fulton  and  Enos  M.  Halbert  were  in  the  active 
work  the   full  time. 

hi  boyhood  or  manhood  1  have  had  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  eleven  of  these  ministers  enrolled  in  the  first  decade,  and 
have  had  special  opportunities  to  know  by  reputation  several 
others. 

John  McFarland  was  bowed  with  the  weight  of  years  and 
arduous  toil  when  Ozark  Presbytery  was  organized,  and  be  it 
said  to  the  honor  of  this  Presbytery  that  its  firsl  recommendation 
to  the  Assembly*  Board.of  Relief  April  12th.  1872,  reads:     -'The 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  47 

Committee  on  Relief  were  directed  to  apply  to  the  Committee  on 
Relief  Fund  of  Disabled  Ministers  for  $300,  or  more  if  necessary, 
for  the  relief  of  Rev.  John  McParland." 

James  A.  Paige,  the  last  Stated  Clerk  of  Southwest  Missouri 
Presbytery  and  the  first  of  Ozark,  only  remained  one  year  after 
the  organization.  And  J.  Howard  Nixon's  stay  was  likewise 
brief.  James  Junius  Marks  was  received  just  at  the  close  of  the 
decade,  and  therefore  his  work  belongs  to  a  later  period.  Elimi- 
nating these  four,  the  ministers  who  had  the  most  to  do  in  shap- 
ing the  destinies  of  the  Presbytery  in  this  formative  period  were 
William  R.  Fulton,  J.  M.  Brown,  W.  L.  Miller,  Cyrus  H.  Dunlap, 
Wm.  S.  Knight.  David  L.  Lander  and  Thomas  H.  Allin. 

For  nearly  nineteen  years  William  R.  Fulton  served  the 
Ebenezer  Church.  From  that  church  you  go  down  a  little  valley 
and  up  to  the  top  of  a  green  hill,  and  there  lie  his  earthly  remains 
awaiting  the  judgment  morn.  His  was  the  longest  pastorate  in 
our  bounds,  followed  by  W.  S.  Knight's  eighteen  years  in  the 
first  church  of  Carthage  as  a  close  second  and  R.  W.  Ely's  fifteen 
years  at  Neosho  as  a  close  third.  When  I  first  saw  Greenfield 
twenty  years  after  his  death  the  atmosphere  of  the  place  still 
emitted  the  fragrance  of  his  godly  life.  And  old  settlers  still 
remember  him  as  a  man  of  God  wTho  went  in  and  out  among  them. 
At  the  semi-centennial  of  that  church  it  was  said  that  seven  of 
the  sons  of  Ebenezer  were  in  the  Christian  ministry.  I  think 
there  has  not  one  entered  since  unless  he  was  then  in  prepara- 
tion. Who  but  the  Omniscient  One  knows  the  part  John  McFar- 
iand  and  William  R.  Fulton  had  in  turning  those  seven  men  from 
that  church  into  the  ministry?  A  child  christened  with  the  name 
of  Fulton  as  a  first  name  still  serves  that  church  as  a  ruling 
elder.  He  served  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  for  seven  years  as 
Stated  Clerk,  and  organized,  either  alone  or  as  chairman  of  a 
committee,  the  following  churches:  Carthage,  Avilla,  Locust 
Grove,  Stockton,  Nevada. 

John  M.  Brown  was  elected  the  first  Presbyterial  missionary 
on  a  salary  of  $1,000  per  annum,  to  be  paid  by  the  Home  Board. 
That  was  in  October,  1873.  In  his  history  of  Kansas  City  Pres- 
bytery, Dr.  John  B.  Hill  calls  John  M.  Brown  the  principal  or- 
ganizer of  Osage  Presbytery  (p.  110),  and  in  another  place  says: 
"The  man  who  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  was  sent  by  District 
Secretary  Norton  to  be  one  of  the  reorganizers  of  Osage  was  Rev. 
John  M.  Brown.  *  *  * .  He  did  more  than  any  other  one  man 
of  the  field  work  resulting  in  the  re-establishment  of  our  church 
in  the  Presbyteries  of  Osage  and  Ozark." 

He  was  the  first  Chairman  of  Home  Missions  in  this  Presby- 
tery. In  my  boyhood  days  Willis  L.  Miller — laid  aside  from  the 
active  duties  of  the  ministry  at  that  time  by  reason  of  ill  health 


48  PRESBYTERI  \MS.M    IN'    THE    OZARKS 

— boarded  in  my  father's  family  for  some  months.  I  recall  him 
as  a  man  of  nervous  energy  and  intelligence.  On  one  occasion 
he  went  with  my  older  sisters  and  myself  in  quest  of  wild  straw- 
berries. A  barefooted  boy  and  the  youngest  of  the  company,  I 
made  slow  progress  amonu  the  rocks  and  briars,  and  lagged 
behind  until  the  others  were  out  of  sight — hiding,  as  it  after- 
wards proved.  Two  sensations  were  indelibly  stamped  upon  my 
memory — the  awfulness  of  being  lost,  which  gave  me  my  first 
impression  of  what  hell  must  be  like;  and  then,  when  I  was 
ton  ml,  the  meanness  of  that  preacher  and  my  sisters  for  playing 
the  prank  on  me!  Yes,  and  I  remember  the  flavor  of  those  wild 
strawberries.  That  old  sage  must  have  been  thinking  of  some 
such  berries  as  grew  in  the  unplowed  hills  of  Southwest  Missouri 
when  he  said:  "Doubtless  the  Almighty  might  have  made  a 
better  berry  than  the  strawberry,  but  doubtless  he  never  did." 
Shortly  after  this  Mr.  Miller  "put  on  the  harness"  and  the  rec- 
ords of  Ozark  Presbytery  bear  eloquent  testimony  to  the  correct- 
ness of  my  boyhood  impressions  of  his  zeal,  earnestness  and  ef- 
ficiency. Cyrus  H.  Dunlap,  the  second  Chairman  of  Home  Mis- 
sions, served  the  Calvary  Church  over  eight  years.  William  S. 
Knight  led  the  church  of  Carthage  out  of  the  slough  of  despond 
and  the  wilderness  of  debt,  became  the  first  Chairman  of  For- 
eign Missions  and  the  virtual  founder  of  the  Carthage  Collegiate 
Institute;  and  Donald  K.  Campbell  served  the  church  of  Joplin 
in  the  days  of  small  things  and  planted  Presbyterianism  in  Webb 
City.  Of  these  we  shall  hear  more  anon.  It  remains  for  me  to 
speak  of  David  L.  Lander  and  Thomas  H.  All  in.  These  were  the  *. 
sons  of  the  Presbytery  in  a  particular  sense  in  that  her  hands 
were  laid  on  their  heads  in  licensure  and  ordination.  The  Pres- 
bytery inherited  from  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  a 
commendable  carefulness  in  the  reception  and  the  ordination  of 
ministers,the  lack  of  which  carefulness  will.  I  think,  explain 
many  of  the  weaknesses  of  her  history  in  later  years.  In  all  the 
annals  of  the  Southwest  Missouri  Presbytery  I  find  no  instance 
when  a  man  was  ordained  by  lowering  the  standard  of  examina- 
tions required  in  the  book.  For  ten  years  at  least  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  treasured  the  spirit  of  this  inheritance,  if  not  the  letter. 
For  a  year  and  a  half  a  certain  brother  knocked  at  her  doors  for 
admission.  For  some  years  his  name  had  not  been  on  the  roll  of 
the  Presbytery  to  which  he  last  belonged.  Through  correspond- 
ence it  was  ascertained  that  said  Presbytery  interposed  no  ob- 
jections to  his  acceptance  by  Ozark  Presbytery.  He  had  lived 
in  our  bounds  for  several  years.  But  the  committee's  report, 
which  was  adopted  by  Presbytery,  states: 

"He   is   not  incapacitated   for   the   active   labors   of   the   ministry,   shall 
we  receive   him?     Your  committee   recommend   that   we   do   not   receive   him 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  49 

at  present.  He  had  practically  withdrawn  from  the  ministry.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  secular  business  when  he  made  this  application  and  has  so  con- 
tinued to  he  since.  We  know  no  ground  for  charges  against  him  as  a 
Christian.  He  is  teaching  in  the  Sabbath  School  and  doing  good  as  a  lay- 
man; but  we  believe  this  Presbytery  can  not  clothe  him  again  with  the 
character  of  a  Christian  minister  without  secularizing  this  sacred  office." 

Iii  this  period  it  appears  that  only  two  men  from  non-Pres- 
byterian bodies  sought  admission  to  the  Presbytery.  The  one, 
a  Methodist,  was  received,  but  his  reception  was  afterwards 
declared  null  and  void,  as  previously  stated;  the  other,  a  Baptist 
minister,  was  permitted  to  labor  in  our  bounds,  was  twice  exam- 
ined, but  his  examinations  were  not  sustained. 

Presbytery  ordained  but  four  men  in  these  ten  years.  The 
first  was  Squire  Glasscock  and  the  last  was  W.  A.  Cravens.  Of 
the  others  I  shall  speak  more  at  length. 

David  L.  Lander  was  a  student  for  the  ministry  in  Center 
College,  but  owing  to  ill  health  left  the  college  and  abandoned 
the  idea  of  entering  the  ministry.  Coming  to  Neosho,  he  taught 
in  the  public  schools,  where  after  three  months'  service  he  was 
elected  principal.  On  uniting  with  the  church  he  was  immedi- 
ately elected  an  elder,  and  in  that  capacity  served  the  church  as 
a  representative  in  Presbytery,  as  superintendent  and  Bible  class 
teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school.  Rev.  John  M.  Brown  laid  hands 
on  the  young  man  and  started  him  in  the  study  of  theology.  Sub- 
sequently, while  teaching  in  the  Indian  Territory,  he  "exercised 
his  gifts."  From  his  secular  labors  there  he  was  called  to  preach 
by  the  Neosho  Church,  and  served  that  and  the  neighboring 
churches  of  Granby  and  Westminster  from  April,  75,  to  April, 
'79.  For  a  little  over  a  year  he  was  Stated  Clerk  of  this  Pres- 
bytery. And  the  records  he  kept  are  written  in  a  hand  beautiful 
and  plain.  Incidentally  it  might  be  noted  that  the  same  cannot 
be  said  of  some  earlier  and  later  S.  Cs.  In  later  life  Mr.  Lander 
has  served  three  other  Presbyteries  in  a  similar  capacity.  When 
just  budding  into  young  manhood  I  thought  him  an  exception- 
ally good  preacher.  Of  Thomas  H.  Allin  I  have  precious  mem- 
ories. In  Hill's  "Presbytery  of  Kansas  City"  (p.  306)  is  this 
record : 

SALEM    (PETTIS   COUNTY). 

This  church  is  located  five  miles  northwest  of  Lamonte  and  seven  and 
one-half  miles  northeast  of  Knob  Noster.  September  15,  1880,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  request  for  the  dissolution  of  the  church  at  LaMonte  the  Rev. 
T.  H.  Allin  requested  leave  to  organize  a  church  at  this  point.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Allen,  Synodical  Missionary,  together  with  T.  H.  Allin,  D.  L.  Lander  and 
Elders  S.  T.  Mahin  and  P.  Stringfield  were  appointed  a  committee  to  or- 
ganize. The  next  spring  the  committee  reported:  "Our  chairman  failed 
to  report  in  person  at   the  appointed  time;   the   remaining  members   of  the 


5o  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

committee  proceeded  with  the  work  as  best  they  could.  Preparatory 
vices  were  held  during  the  second  week  in  October,  the  gospel  being  preach 
ed  each  evening.  <>n  Sabbath  morning,  <><-i.  10,  after  services,  twenty-five 
persons  were  organized  into  a  church  according  to  the  Presbyterian  ('"ii 
fession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government.  Fourteen  of  these  presented 
letters  from  other  churches  and  eleven  were  added  on  examination.  Two 
elders,  P,  Stringfield  and  L.  A.  Byers,  were  elected  and  installed." 

I  was  one  of  those  eleven,  and  including  a  cousin  of  mine, 
who  lived  with  us.  and  my  married  sister,  if  L  am  not  mistaken, 
one  family  constituted  nine  of  the  twenty-five.  Ours  was  a  large 
family  -with  hired  help — in  those  days  always  from  eleven  up. 
Yei  there  was  always  room  for  the  minister.  Mr.  Allin,  his  wife 
and  his  son  frequently  stayed  with  us.  He  belonged  to  that  old 
type  of  Presbyterian  preachers — prevailingly  clerical  in  attire 
and  dignified  in  bearing.  Von  had  to  give  them  aboul  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour's  notice  for  breakfast.  Owing  to  the  crowded 
conditions  of  our  house,  my  younger  brother  often  slept  on  a 
pallet  in  the  "Prophet's  Chamber.."  The  celerity  with  which 
the  barefooted  boy — now  clerk  of  the  session  of  Ebenezer  Church 
— donned  his  apparel  was  a  theme  of  constant  remark  and  amaze- 
ment for  the  clergyman.  The  tall,  erect  and  dignified  man.  past 
sixty,  could  not  realize  that  the  boy  slept  in  his  shirl  and  only 
needed  to  run  hi.s  legs  in  his  trousers,  throw  a  suspender  over  each 
shoulder,  and  as  his  hands  came  down  button  about  three  buttons 
on  his  trousers  and  then  was  ready  for  the  day!  This  inc'denl 
is  a  parable  which,  being  interpreted,  means:  Preacher  notice 
and  know  the  boy. 

But  to  resume.  In  the  early  seventies  L.  H.  Allin  was  a  law- 
yer and  an  elder  in  the  Salem  Church,  Jasper  County.  In  the 
Presbyterial  records  of  March.  1876,  is  this  minute: 

"Whereas,  the  large  field  of  Rev.  W.  L.  Miller  for  the  last  two  years 
has  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  cultivate  it  alone;  and.  whereas.  Mr. 
Thomas    II.    Allin,   an    elder   of   Salem    Church,    has   for   1  wo   years   Keen    assisl 

iny  his  minister,  visiting  the  people  and  filling  many  of  the  regular  appoint- 
ments, bearing   his  own   expenses  and    receiving  no   compensation    therefor; 

and,    whereas,    abundant    and    satisfactory    testimony    to    the    value    of    these 

labors  has  been  presented  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Miller  and  the  elders  of  these 
churches;  and,  whereas,  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  is  unable  to  commis- 
sion another  minister  so  that  field  may  he  divided;  therefore,  resolved,  that 
Presbytery  do  hereby  gratefully  recognize  the  value  of  the  labors  of  Elder 
Thomas  II.  Allin,  approve  of  his  work  and  reqiiesl  him  to  continue  therein 
until  the  next   meeting  of  Presbytery." 

Mr.  Miller's  field  at  that  time  covered  a  good  part  of  North- 
ern .jasper  and  Lawrence  Counties,  but  he  and  the  Presbytery 
seemed  imbued  with  the  idea  that  it  needed  "cultivation"  as 
well  as  preaching.  So  Mr.  Miller  set  apart  .Mr.  Allin  as  a  kind  of 
"local  evangelist"  two  years  before  . Presbytery  took  action 
thereon,  and  the   Presbytery  set   him  apart   for  the  functions  -  of 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  51 

this  office  long  before  the  Form  of  Government  recognized  the 
office.  Six  months  later  Mr.  Allin  was  licensed  and  another  six 
months  brought  his  ordination. 

I  have  dwelt  at  length  on  these  exceptional  cases  for  a  pur- 
pose. They  were  clearly  exceptional  in  the  sense  that  "the 
fathers"  used  the  term.  There  came  a  time  when  the  Presbytery 
seemed  inclined  to  regard  almost  any  man  who  lacked  educa- 
tional qualifications,  but  wanted  to  preach,  as  an  exceptional 
case.  To  the  lack  of  care  in  the  reception  of  candidates  and  min- 
isters I  attribute  much  of  the  weakness  of  the  Presbytery.  And 
when  I  am  gone,  if  remembered  at  all,  I  want  to  be  remembered 
as  one  who  had  an  humble  part  in  bringing  the  Presbytery  back 
to  better  traditions  of  a  former  day,  and  who  believed  that  out 
smaller  churches,  that  have  and  will  fill  the  ranks  of  the  minis- 
try and  the  rolls  of  the  larger  churches,  need  strong  men  of  God 
to  cultivate  and  preach  for  them,  and  that  because  they  furnish 
the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  church  at  large,  the  church  at  large 
ought  to  ustain  them.  Starting  with  eleven  ministers,  enrolling 
a  total  of  thirty-four,  and  closing  the  decade  with  nineteen,  the 
Presbytery  averaged  14  1-10  per  annum.  Not  all  of  these  were  in 
active  work.  Several  were  bowed  with  the  infirmities  of  age  and 
were  honorably  retired. 

GROWTH  AND  HINDRANCES. 

The  first  report  after  the  reunion  gave  the  strength  of  the 
Presbytery  as  follows  1871  A.  D. :  Eleven  ministers,  1  licentiate, 
1  candidate,  24  churches,  76  added  on  examination,  92  by  letter. 
630  communicants.  For  1880  the  statistics  are :  Nineteen  min- 
isters, 1  licentiate,  7  candidates,  34  churches,  83  added  on  exam- 
ination, 67  by  certificate ;  total,  1,137..  In  his  address  at  the 
Ebenezer  semi-centennial  Dr.  Knight  spoke  of  the  growth  of  the 
Presbytery  as  follows:  "The  increase  in  membership  from  1870 
to  1880  was  152  per  cent  as  compared  with  46  1-3  in  population, 
and  from  1880  to  1890  77  per  cent  as  against  43."  In  this  com- 
parison, however,  I  think  Dr.  Knight  used  only  the  statistics  of 
the  Old  School  churches.  As  shown  above,  there  were  532  mem- 
bers in  the  churches  assigned  to  Ozark  Presbytery  at  the  time  of 
the  reunion.  This  would  make  a  growth  from  1870  to  1880  of 
113  96-113  per  cent.  If  one  is  inclined  to  a  less  optimistic  glance, 
he  can  readily  find  that  though  we  increased  relatively  faster  than 
the  population,  other  demonstrations  outstripped  us  by  far.  In- 
deed, the  growth  of  the  Presbytery  was  slow.  Like  the  "good 
Indians,"  the  Presbyterian  element  died  or  moved  away  during 
"Missouri's  Memorable  Decade."  The  churches  were  small  and 
many  of  them  chronically  vacant.     At  the  close    of    this    period 


52  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Calvary  was  the  only  self-sustaining  church,  whilsl  Carthage 
reported  a  membership  of  115.  When  this  Presbytery  was  or- 
ganized Wehb  City  was  not  on  the  map  and  all  Jasper  County 
had  a  population  less  than  that  thriving  city  now  claims.  Greene, 
the  most  populous  county  in  our  bounds,  had  less  than  two- 
thirds  of  what  her  metropolis  now  claims,  and  even  in  1880  all 
the  people  of  Jasper  County  could  have  lived  in  the  bouses  of 
the  present  Joplin,  and  strangers  would  have  found  plenty  of 
"houses  to  let."  W.  J.  Hayden  says  he  organized  the  first  Sun- 
day school  in  Joplin  a  little  over  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  lie 
claims  that  at  that  time  there  was  only  one  brick  building  in  the 
place  and  that  the  mining  industry  was  just  beginning  to  attract 
attention.  Not  then  had  the  fame  of  the  "Land  of  the  Big  Red  An 
pie"  been  sounded  afar,  and  no  powerful  express  companies 
placed  the  fresh  grown,  luscious  strawberries,  kissed  by  the  dews 
and  with  cheeks  blushed  by  the  sunshine  of  the  Ozarks,  on  the 
table  of  artisan  and  millionaire  in  St.  Louis,  Chicago  and  New 
York.  With  its  rocks  and  its  hills  it  was  largely  an  agricultural 
and  stock-raising  country,  and  chinch  bugs  or  other  pests  were  so 
numerous  that  this  Presbytery  took  notice  of  the  distressed  condi- 
tion of  the  farming  community.  And  let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that 
the  strong  men  whom  I  have  mentioned  were  not  all  laboring 
here  at  once. 

Frequent  attention  is  called  to  the  great  scarcity  of  minis- 
ters, and  often  the  only  kind  that  could  be  obtained  were  men 
who  thought  their  mission  fulfilled  when  they  had  filled  their 
Sunday  appointments.  They  expected  to  be  nourished  rather 
than  to  nourish  the  churches.  The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  has  had 
more  than  its  share  of  this  type.  A  country  elder  described  one 
of  them  who  came  to  us  in  later  years  in  this  way:  "He  preaches 
well  enough,  but  when  you  sot  him  down  he's  there  until  you 
come  back  after  him."  We  talk  of  ministers  being  underpaid, 
and  so  they  are.  but  the  minister  who  does  not  work  as  hard  as 
the  farmer  or  the  mechanic  is  overpaid.  A  truck  garden  highly 
cultivated  may  yield  its  possessor  as  much  revenue  as  a  farm 
with  scant  cultivation.  In  the  spiritual  realm  if  the  large  church 
or  field  is  not  well  cultivated  it  looks  for  another  cultivator.  Too 
often  the  small  field  must  look  for  enrichment  to  a  larger  grant 
from  the  board. 

It  must  be  confessed,  too.  that  while  the  Presbyterian  Church 
has  always  been  known  for  strength  and  stability  she  has  no1 
always  been  remarkable  for  adaptability.  In  this  respect  she  ;s 
better  equipped  today  than  a  generation  ago.  With  the  strength 
and  stability  of  the  fathers  and  the  adaptability  of  the  sons,  we 
are  now  ready  to  move  forward  with  accelerated  pace.  But  the 
shortcomings  in  adaptability  and  the  very  stability  and  standards 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  53 

of  excellence  made  the  church  a  target  for  others.  Then,  too, 
the  ministers  of  the  Presbytery  were  compelled  to  exhaust  much 
of  their  strength  in  efforts  to  supply  the  vacant  churches  and  to 
relieve  their  own  charges  of  the  burdens  of  debt.  Some  of  the 
strongest  churches  now  on  our  roll  were  mildly  censured  for  not 
fulfilling  promises  to  liquidate  these  debts,  and  the  heroic  efforts 
of  such  churches  as  Salem,  Ozark  Prairie  and  Mount  Zion  were 
held  up  as  worthy  of  emulation.  Ministers  were  appointed  to 
preach  at  the  many  vacant  churches  during  the  interims  of  Pres- 
byteries, and  even  the  pastor  of  Calvary  was  appointed  to  preach 
at  Ash  Grove  once  a  month  for  six  months,  and  what  is  more  to 
the  point  he  reported  fidelity  to  the  trust  with  the  exception  that 
he  failed  to  do  so  in  August.  The  Committee  on  Church  Erection 
submitted  the  following  tabulated  statement  in  April.  1874: 

Name  of  Church  Elected  Cost  Remarks 

Ebenezer  1852  $3,000 

Calvary  1856  3,300 

Mount  Zion 1867  3,500  Debt     $250 

Carthage  _ 1871  5,000  "  $2,500 

Neosho 1872  2,600  "  $600 

Ozark  Prairie 1872  6.000  "  $600 

Salem  1873  3.000  "  $6,000 

(I  think  this  debt  of  Salem  must  have  been  $600  instead  of 
$6,000,  as  given  in  the  report.) 

The  report  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the 
churches  were  houseless  and  urges  the  importance  of  houses  of 
worship  to  secure  permanence  and  prosperity. 

A  PERIOD  OF  ORGANIZATION. 

This  was  a  period  of  organization.  Many  of  the  churches  had 
a  habit  of  not  staying  organized  and  had  to  be  reorganized.  The 
annual  summary  for  May,  1870,  states  there  were  thirteen 
churches.  This  was  before  the  union  was  consummated  and  there- 
fore is  the  record  only  of  the  Old  School  Presbytery.  It  must, 
too,  include  Bolivar,  which  the  records  show  was  dissolved  just 
before  this.  On  a  previous  page  I  have  shown  that  in  the  autumn 
of  1870  there  were  twelve  O.  S.  and  live  X.  S.  churches  that  en- 
tered into  the  union. 

Then  in  May,  1871.  we  had  twenty-four  churches,  and  in 
1880  thirty-four.  If  we  subtract  the  Arkansas  churches  from  the 
roll  of  1906 — territory  that  was  not  then  in  our  bounds — we  find 
exactly  the  same  number  of  churches,  i.  e..  thirty-four.  Only 
about  one-fourth  of  these  are  now  on  our  roll. 


=S4  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

LAY  WORKERS. 

In  the  day  of  small  things  Presbytery  w;is  blessed  with  some 
efficienl  elders.  Young  people's  work  w;is  scarcely  mi  iridescent 
dream,  and  so  far  as  the  records  show  Presbytery  took  no  knowl- 
edge of  the  women  until  its  third  meeting,  and  then  simply  called 
upon  them  for  help  in  educating  young  men  for  the  ministry  in 
these  words:  "Resolved  fourth.  That  we  solicit  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  our  good  sisters  in  this  noble  work." 

William  Thompson,  of  Mount  Zion  Church;  William  R.  Gor- 
ton and  John  L.  Carson,  of  Calvary,  and  William  II.  Schmal- 
horst,  of  Conway,  have  been  elders  in  these  churches  respectively 
during  the  entire  thirty-seven  years  of  the  history  of  the  Presby- 
tery. Dr.  A.  C.  Schell.  of  Neosho,  was  an  elder  in  that  church 
at  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  and  at  its  transfer  to  the 
New  Ozark,  but  for  a  period  of  the  intervening  years  he  was 
away  and  in  connection  with  other  churches. 

W.  L.  Seroggs,  for*  forty-five  years  an  elder  in  the  Ebenezer 
Church,  was  an  efficient  Presbyter,  serving  on  many  important 
committees,  and  has  given  two  sons  to  the  ministry.  A  third  son 
was  for  a  short  time  a  medical  missionary.  An  older  son  is  now 
an  elder  in  the  Ebenezer  Church  and  a  grandson  is  a  deacon. 

Charles  Sheppard,  of  Calvary  Church,  was  the  first  treasurer 
of  Presbytery,  and  William  R.  Gorton  formed  the  habit  of  being 
an  efficient  temporary  clerk  so  early  that  he  has  probably  served 
in  that  capacity  oftener  than  any  other  two  men.  Neosho,  in  the 
person  of  Elder  J.  H.  Miller,  furnished  the  first  man  recommended 
by  the  Presbytery  to  the  Foreign  Board.  That  was  October,  1870, 
and  Mr.  Miller  was  recommended  to  the  board  as  a  suitable  man 
for  the  board  to  recommend  to  the  Government  for  an  agency 
to  the  Quapaw  and  Seneca  nations.  This  same  church  gave  the 
Presbytery  the  valuable  services  of  Elder  D.  L.  Lander  before  he 
became  a  minister,  as  Salem  Church  did  those  of  Elder  T.  H. 
Allin.  Paul  Orr,  oldest  of  the  three  brothers  who  for  so  many 
years  served  as  elders  in  the  Ozark  Prairie  and  Mount  Vernon 
group  of  churches,  took  that  deep  interest  in  affairs  Presbyterial 
for  which  some  of  us  remember  him.  And  the  names  of  Mitchell, 
Poage,  Sheppard,  Strain  and  Stringfield,  frequently  found  in 
these  earlier  annals,  are  represented  in  the  eldership  of  the  Pres- 
bytery by  a  later  generation  to  this  day.  But  time  would  fail 
me  to  tell  of  McMillan,  recently  deceased  at  Carthage,  and  W.  A. 
Wheatley,  sole  elder  of  Webb  City  at  its  organization  and  an 
elder  in  the  recently  organized  church  of  North  Heights.  Joplin, 
and  of  the  rest  who  wrought  righteousness  and  obtained  the 
promises. 

Not  until  March  19th,  1876,  did  Presbytery  seek  to  enlist  the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  55 

women  in  organized  efforts.  On  that  date  this  minute  appears: 
"Kesolvecl,  That  at  our  next  stated  meeting  we  hold  a  mission- 
ary meeting  and  that  we  endeavor  to  secure  one  lady  to  repre- 
sent each  church  in  a  Ladies'  Presbyterial  Missionary  meeting; 
and  that  our  Committee  on  Foreign  Missions  be  instructed  to  pre- 
pare a  good  program  for  such  a  meeting. "  This  society  was  or- 
ganized at  Greenfield  September  29,  1876.  Miss  Amanda  Cowan, 
of  Calvary  Church,  who  is  still  an  active  worker  in  the  local  or- 
ganization of  that  church,  was  elected  first  President.  Presby- 
tery was  greatly  elated  over  this  new  movement,  hailed  with  de- 
light the  prospect  of  the  ladies  becoming  colaborers  in  the  work 
of  evangelizing  the  world  and  promised  to  endeavor  to  secure  a 
society  in  each  church.  Six  months  later  note  is  taken  of  the 
efforts  to  organize  the  Board  of  the  Southwest  in  St.  Louis,  the 
commendatory  resolutions  of  the  last  session  are  reiterated  and 
the  Stated  Clerk  was  instructed  to  send  these  felicitous  tidings 
to  Mrs.  Henry  S.  Little,  of  St.  Louis,  a  name  familiar  to  this  gen- 
eration. 

BOARDS  AND  BENEVOLENT  AGENCIES. 

The  Boards  of  Home  Missions,  Church  Erection,  Sabbath 
School  Work,  Ministerial  Education  and  Ministerial  Relief  first 
claimed  the  attention  of  Presbytery.  The  struggling  condition 
of  our  churches  brought  home  to  them  the  beneficent  agencies  of 
home  missions  and  church  erection;  the  wide  moral  and  spiritual 
destitutions  called  for  Sabbath  school  missionaries,  whilst  the 
importance  of  the  work  of  ministerial  education  was  echoed  from 
hilltop  to  hilltop  in  the  clarion  call: 

"0  still  in  accents  sweet  and  strong 

Sounds  forth  the  ancient  word, 
'More  reapers  for  white  harvest  fields, 

More  laborers  for  the  Lord.'  " 

And  when  more  reapers  failed  to  come  the  added  burdens  of 
those  who  were  here  bowed  them  with  the  weight  of  premature 
age  and  endeared  to  the  Presbytery  the  work  of  ministerial  relief. 
We  who  have  fallen  on  softer  days  can  forgive  them  that  they 
seem  not  even  to  have  had  a  standing  Committee  on  Foreign  Mis- 
sions until  the  autumn  of  1875.  Of  this  first  standing  committee 
Dr.  W.  S.  Knight  was  the  Chairman,  and  although  there  is  abun- 
dant evidence  that  he  put  considerable  energy  into  the  work  of 
the  committee,  the  report  at  the  spring  meeting  of  1877  shows 
that  only  five  churches  contributed  to  foreign  missions.  One  of 
the  five  contributed  $206  and  the  other  four  contributed  $20.  A 
little  ont   of  proportion,  think  yon?     Yet  as  late  as  1906,  of  the 


56  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

$1,797  contributed  to  foreign  missions,  one  church  of  the  forty- 
two  on  the  roll  of  Presbytery  contributed  $1,029.  Yet  while  the 
Presbytery  tarried  so  long  in  organized  efforts  for  foreign  mis- 
sions, it  is  fair  to  state  that  at  its  first  session  Presbytery  called 
on  all  its  churches  to  observe  the  first  week  in  January  as  a 
week  of  prayer  for  the  conversion  of  the  world. 

It  was  bul  natural  that  home  missions  should  claim  a  large 
share  of  the  attention  of  Presbytery  when  we  remember  that  all 
our  churches  were  home  mission  churches  except  Calvary.  Just 
at  the  close  of  the  decade  the  churches  of  Carthage  and  Joplin 
reached  the  dignity  of  belonging  to  the  sustentation  department 
of  that  board.  A  later  generation  of  elders  and  ministers  may 
need  to  be  reminded  that  the  sustentation  department  of  home 
missions  had  two  requirements — that  the  minimum  contribution 
per  member  for  pastor's  salary  be  $5  and  the  minimum  salary  be 
$900.  These  minimums  may  have  varied  at  different  times,  but 
I  give  them  as  I  recollect  them..  The  first  standing  Committee 
on  Home  Missions  consisted  of  Revs.  J.  M\  Brown,  W.  R.  Fulton 
and  Elder  W,  L.  Scroggs.  After  three  and  a  half  years  of  serv- 
ice as  Chairman  of  this  committee  Mr.  Brown  resigned,  and 
Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap  was  elected  and  served  until  his  removal  from 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  just  before  the  close  of  this  decade. 
Very  early  in  its  history  Presbytery  recognized  the  need  of  a  field 
worker,  who  at  various  times  has  been  designated  as  Presbyterial 
evangelist,  missionary  or  pastor-at-large.  John  M.  Brown  first 
served  Presbytery  in  this  capacity.  Allusion  has  already  been 
made  to  Dr.  Hill's  estimate  of  him  as  a  field  worker.  That  repu- 
tation he  seems  to  have  sustained  in  this  Presbytery.  But  after 
two  years  of  service,  on  account  of  the  heavy  debt  of  the  board, 
which  Presbytery  designated  "the  severest  trial  that  has  come 
upon  the  missionary  work  of  the  church,"  the  office  was  discon- 
tinued. It  would  seem  that  the  board  paid  the  entire  salary  of  Mr. 
Brown,  i.  e.,  $1,000.  Just  at  the  close  of  this  decade  Dr.  Marks 
was  elected  to  a  similar  position  in  Presbytery. 

Of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  three  became  an- 
nuitants of  the  Board  of  Relief  during  this  period.  When  I  re- 
member that  this  list  of  our  worthy  annuitants  was  headed  by 
John  McFarland,  and  when  I  recall  other  honored  names  that 
have  appeared  thereon,  I  think  that  maybe  I  had  better  drop  a 
tear  or  breathe  a  prayer.  But  at  the  risk  of  appearing  harsh, 
with  the  hope  that  it  will  inspire  greater  care  in  the  future,  I  will 
give  the  outlines  of  one  case  which  is  but  an  illustration  of  nu- 
merous cases  that,  in  my  humble  judgment,  lower  this  worthy 
cause  in  the  minds  of  our  people. 

Licensed  without  academic  education  and  without  a  full 
examination  October.  1867:  ordained  April,  1869.     Recommended 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  57 

to  this  board  on  account  of  throat  trouble  September,  1877.  Still 
on  the  roll.  I  thought  it — and  not  very  long  ago  an  elder  who 
knew  said  it — it  would  have  been  better  for  some  one  t  >  have  told 
him  that  with  only  throat  trouble  he  might  have  turned  to  some 
secular  employment.  In  the  early  days  of  the  Presbytery  the 
work  of  Sabbath  school  missions  was  hardly  considered  second 
to  any.  Within  our  bounds,  as  a  usual  thing,  there  was  from 
one  to  three  missionaries,  or  colporteurs,  as  they  were  generally 
called.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  W.  J.  Hayden, 
the  representative  of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  ad- 
dressed the  Presbytery,  and  at  that  time  the  work  of  this  Union 
seemed  to  be  regarded  with  about  the  same  favor  as  our  own 
Board.  From  the  very  beginning  the  Presbytery  has  had  its  Sun- 
day School  Committee,  and  as  early  as  September,  1872,  Presby- 
tery adopted  a  standing  rule  to  the  effect  that  conferences  on 
Sunday  school  work  be  held  in  connection  with  the  sess;ons  of 
Presbytery  under  the  auspices  of  the  Sunday  School  Committee. 
It  would  seem  that  the  early  missionaries  devoted  more  time  to 
the  dissemination  of  Christian  literature  than  to  the  organization 
of  Sabbath  schools.  Though  much  of  this  work  has  never  been 
turned  to  denominational  strength  or  aggrandizement,  eternity 
alone  will  reveal  the  good  that  has  been  done. 

My  earliest  impressions  of  ministers  is  that  of  austere  and 
dignified  men,  who  slept  in  our  best  bed  and  whose  shoes  I  was 
expected  to  blacken.  And  my  earliest  recollection  of  a  colpor- 
teur is  that  of  a  man  who  came  into  our  home  and  gave  me  a 
book  entitled  "The  Story  of  a  Pocket  Bible,"  which  left  a  lasting 
impression  for  good  on  my  mind. 

The  first  candidate  for  the  ministry  enrolled  by  this  Presby- 
tery was  a  colored  man,  Benjamin  Garnet  by  name.  That  was 
October  1st,  1870.  One  year  later  William  E.  Renshaw,  of  Mount 
Zion  Church,  and  John  W.  Richardson,  of  White  Rock  Church, 
were  received  under  care  of  Presbytery.  So  elated  were  the 
fathers  and  brethren  over  this  prospect  of  filling  the  ranks  of 
the  ministry  from  our  own  sons  that  they  passed  ecstatic  reso- 
lutions calling  upon  churches,  elders  and  "our  good  sisters"  to 
help  to  sustain  the  cause  of  ministerial  education.  In  1878  the 
number  of  candidates  rose  to  five,  and  in  1880  there  were  seven. 
When  we  remember  that  in  no  year  in  the  last  twenty  have  we 
had  more  than  half  this  number,  though  our  membership  has 
increased  several  fold,  we  can  more  fully  appreciate  what  these 
feeble  churches  did  in  the  way  of  replenishing  the  ranks  of  the 
ministry. 

The  Presbytery  has  never  been  distracted  by  doctrinal  dif- 
ficulties. Its  ministry  has  been  prevailingly  of  a  conservative 
type.    In  the  realm  of  ethics  it  has  had  a  few  derelicts.     In  1878 


58  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Presbytery  deposed  from  the  ministry  one  on  whom  ii  had  laid 
its  own  hands.    The  charges  were  immorality.     Less  than  fifteen 

years  later  Presbytery  ordained  this  man  and  in  a  few  years  had 
another  trial  on  its  hands,  at  which  time  the  same  man  was  cen- 
sured. Subsequently  he  was  permitted  to  demit  the  ministry, 
hut  the  church  he  wrecked  has  not  recovered  to  this  day. 

I  recall  a  later  incident  where  a  man  pasl  threescore  and 
ten  was  received  from  another  denomination  and  in  less  than  a 
year  scandalized  the  community  where  he  was  sent  and  was 
temporarily  silenced  by  the  Presbytery,  hut  not  until  he  bad 
st.irted  the  church  on  a  path  that  led  it  outside  our  ranks.  The 
lirst  of  these  was  never  equipped  for  the  ministry,  either  by  na- 
ture, by  education  or  by  grace.  The  second  should  have  been 
left  to  spend  his  dotage  in  the  church  to  which  he  gave  his  man- 
hood's powers  and  abilities. 

In  the  item  of  ministerial  salaries  the  first  decade  was  far  in 
advance  of  subsequent  times.  Not  that  any  of  its  ministers  there 
received  as  large  a  salary  as  some  do  now.  but  that  for  the  same 
grade  of  work,  both  relatively  and  actually,  better  salaries  were 
paid.  Then  we  had  no  cities  and  no  city  churches.  In  1873  .1 
certain  village  church,  together  with  an  outgoing  country  church, 
raised  $500  and  received  $500  from  the  hoard  to  make  a  salary 
of  $1,000.  The  village  has  grown  to  a  city  ;  to  the  natural  increase 
has  added  strength  by  union  with  the  Cumberland  Church,  yet  I 
believe  after  thirty-four  years  has  only  increased  its  pastor's 
salary  by  the  use  of  the  manse.  At  that  time  from  $800  to  $1,000 
seemed  to  have  been  the  prevailing  salary  for  a  good  man  in  a 
single  church  aided  by  the  board,  or  just  strong  enough  to  stand 
alone,  or  for  a  number  of  the  croups  of  churches.  Gradually 
the  salaries  were  decreased.  Some  inefficient  men  helped  to  lower 
the  standard.  Weakened  churches  could  seldom  attract  the  other 
kind.  The  board  lowered  its  grants  partly  because  of  financial 
stress  and  partly  by  reason  of  the  slow  growth  of  our  churches. 
Thus  the  salaries,  the  ministry  and  the  churches  act  and  react  on 
each  other.  The  board  and  the  home  mission  committees  of  the 
Presbytery  have  mutually  deplored  the  meager  support  offered 
our  ministry  in  recent  years.  Here  is  one  of  the  problems  be- 
queathed to  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 

SECOND  I)  E(  'A  1  )E— 1 881  ►- 1 889. 


The  second  decade  was  an  era  of  church  building.  Not  less 
than  fifteen  churches  applied  for  aid  in  the  erection  or  comple- 
tion of  houses  of  worship. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  59 

The   following   table   shows    the   fluctuating   growth   of  the 
Presbytery  : 

Year  No.  Ministers      Candid's        Added  on  Ex.     Added  by  Cert.        Whole  No. 

1880 19  7  83  67  1,137 

1881 16  6  18  47  1,068 

1882 20  8  79  129  1,189 

1883 21  5  70  88  1,250 

1884 15  3  100  157  1,367 

1885 16  4  150  178  1,563 

1886 18  4  171  125  1,734 

1887 20  2  228  93  1,877 

1888 21  2  138  131  1,949 

1889 26  1  134  98  2,000 

It  seems  almost  incredible  that  in  1881,  with  sixteen  minis- 
ters, only  eighteen  should  have  been  added  to  the  churches  on 
profession  of  faith.  It  should  be  said,  however,  that  the  number 
of  ministers  is  not  a  fair  index  to  the  working  force  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, because  the  Presbytery  has  constantly  enrolled  a  com- 
paratively large  superannuated  list.  The  early  years  of  this  era 
were  the  golden  age  of  candidates  for  the  ministry.  In  1882  the 
Presbytery  reported  eight,  or  one  to  every  148%  communicants 
In  1906  the  Presbytery  had  one  candidate  to  3,432  communicants, 
and  the  following  year  two  to  4,069. 

It  is  also  worthy  of  remark  that  the  candidates  of  the  early 
eighties  were  the  products  of  our  own  churches,  and  took  full 
collegiate  and  theological  courses,  whilst  those  of  recent  years, 
for  the  large  part,  have  come  from  other  churches  and  have  en- 
tered the  ministry  by  the  short  cut.  At  one  time  the  Presbytery 
had  four  candidates  in  Drury  College.  At  another  there  were 
four  in  theological  seminaries,  two  in  Drury  College  and  one  in 
Park.  But  the  fatal  mistake  was  made  of  permitting  these  young 
men  to  slip  through  our  hands  and  enter  other  fields  of  labor. 
Of  the  seven  referred  to, 'two  entered  other  callings  and  only 
one  took  a  field  of  labor  in  our  bounds  upon  his  ordination.  The 
Presbytery  employed  the  young  men  during  their  summer  vaca- 
tions, but  failed  to  hold  them  when  they  had  completed  their 
course.  The  same  rule  applies  to  our  candidates  of  later  time. 
We  have  given  to  the  church  at  large  a  number  of  young  men 
whose  successful  ministries  in  other  places  leads  the  historian  to 
infer  that  had  they  stayed  with  us  our  progress  would  have  been 
more  marked.  The  perennial  difficulty  in  this  Presbytery  has 
been  the  securing  and  holding  of  efficient  ministers.  The  young 
man  alluded-  to  above  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Joplin 
Church  at  his  graduation  and  in  less  than  a  year  asked  for  the 


6o  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

dissolution   of   the    pastoral  relation.       Presbytery   granted   the 
requesl  with  a  protest,  but  it  granted  it. 

In  the  records  of  April,  1882,  this  entry  is  found: 

"A  letter  having  been  received  and  read  from  Elder  A.  D.  Matthews, 
of  Buffalo,  requesting  the  holding  of  a   Presbyterial  camp  meeting  at  some 

Central    poinl     in     Polk    or    Dallas    County,    it     was    resolved    that     I'reshytery 

answer   favorably    and    that    said    meeting   lie    held    under   the   direction   of 
Rev.    .).    .I.    .Mark's." 

The  growing  interest  in  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  train- 
ing of  the  young  was  manifested  in  the  holding  of  Sabbath  school 
institutes  and  the  founding  of  institutions  of  learning.  The  rec- 
ords of  these  institutions  are  meager,  but  there  are  indications 
that  Presbytery  devoted  considerable  attention  to  them  and  con- 
sidered them  of  much  importance. 

In  1888  colporteurs  were  supplanted  by  Sabbath  school  mis- 
sionaries. The  two  officers  were  not  distinct,  but  under  the  old 
regimen  the  dissemination  of  Christian  literature  was  the  promi- 
nent work,  and  the  organization  of  schools  occupied  a  secondary 
place.  During  a  part  of  that  time  at  least  the  organization  of 
schools  was  relegated  largely  to  the  agents  of  the  American  Sun- 
day School  Union,  which  institution  was  regarded  as  a  <piasi- 
handmaiden  of  the  Presbytery.  Educational  institutions  under 
church  auspices  sprang  into  being  in  various  parts  of  the  Presby- 
tery. The  Mount  Zion  and  the  Mount  Vernon  churches  were 
erected  with  a  view  to  school  as  well  as  church  purposes,  each 
of  them  having  two  stories.  The  school  in  connection  with  the 
former  received  the  endorsement  of  Presbytery  in  -1884.  The 
latter  maintained  a  flourishing  academy  at  the  close  of  this  dec- 
ade. Presbytery  also  entered  into  negotiations  for  an  academy 
at  Ash  Grove  in  1885,  but  it  appears  that  the  school  did  not  ma- 
terialize. Aid  was  also  given  to  Synod's  earliest  effort  to  co- 
operate with  the  Southern  church  in  the  maintenance  of  West- 
minster College  at  Fulton,  Mo.,  but  the  most  pretentious  educa- 
tional endeavor  of  the  Presbytery  was  the  founding  of  Carthage 
College,  a  sketch  of  which  is  elsewhere  given. 

The  subjoined  report  of  the  Committee  on  Home  Missions 
April,  1884,  presents  a  graphic  picture  of  the  condition  and  needs 
of  the  Presbytery: 

"First — We  need  more  permanence  in  the  terms  of  ministerial  service — 
we  had  thought  to  say  more  permanence  in  the  pastoral  relation, — but  when 
we  remember  that  we  have  but  two  pastorates  among  all  our  thirty-six 
churches  it  seems  more  natural  to  use  the  term  which  appropriately  be- 
longs to  the  existing  state  of  things.  In  our  smaller  churches  the  pastorate 
is  almost  if  not  entirely  unknown.  The  term  of  ministerial  service  rarely, 
if  ever,  exceeds  two  years,  and  very  often  falls  short  of  one.  As  long  as 
this  condition  of  things  continues  it  is  impossible  to  secure  the  best  results 
of  our  labors.     The  responsibility  of  these   frequent   changes  may  possibly 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  6i 

be  about  equally  divided  between  the  ministers  and  churches.  The  remedy 
must  be  looked  for  in  the  same  direction  by  a  greater  readiness  on  the 
part  of  the  churches  to  receive  such  faithful  ministers  as  Providence  may 
send  to  them  and  a  greater  contentment  on  the  part  of  the  ministers  in 
remaining  where  Providence  has  once  placed  them. 

"Second — We  need  larger  efforts  at  self-support.  The  sense  of  de- 
pendence on  the  board  once  indulged  in  by  a  church  often  becomes  chronic. 
It  is  so  much  easier  for  poor,  weak  human  nature  to  receive  rather  than  to 
make  sacrifices  that  a  church  often  continues  to  call  for  aid  when  a  little 
sacrifice  would  make  them  self-sustaining,  or  the  same  result  may  be 
secured  by  a  judicial  grouping  of  churches.  The  churches  should  remember 
that  what  they  receive  is  not  a  charity  to  their  minister,  but  to  them,  and 
unless  the  necessity  is  upon  them  they  should  be  no  more  ready  to  receive 
aid  in  paying  for  their  minister's  services  than  in  paying  for  their  gro- 
ceries or  their  doctor's  bill. 

"Third — We  need  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  all  the  duty  of  liberal 
contributions  to  the  Board  of  Home  Missions.  This  board  is  the  mother 
of  all  our  churches.  For  every  dollar  the  churches  of  this  Synod  contributed 
to  this  board  last  year  we  received  back  seven  to  be  expended  on  our  mis- 
sion churches.     *     *     *  %  . 

"Fourth — We  need  the  fostering  of  existing  organizations  rather  than 
the  organization  of  new  churches.  In  some  respects  this  is  not  so  satisfac- 
tory a  work  as  that  of  planting  new  organizations,  but  it  is  the  work 
providentially  put  to  our  hands  as  a  Presbytery,  and  we  should  patiently 
and  steadfastly  give  our  energies  to  it." 

In  this  and  the  preceding  decade  the  country  churches  at- 
tained a  prestige  they  have  long  since  lost.  Where  is  the  country 
community  in  Southwest  Missouri  that  would  now  attempt  to 
erect  a  house  of  worship  as  substantial  and  imposing  as  "the 
brick"  church  of  Ozark  Prairie?  The  development  of  the  Pres- 
bytery in  these  decades  followed  the  westward  course  of  the  star 
of  empire.  Lawrence,  Newton  and  pre-eminently  Jasper  coun- 
ties were  the  fertile  fields  of  effort.  But  the  Jasper  County  work 
was  largely  in  the  country  fields.  Joplin  first  received  a  gen- 
erous grant  of  home  mission  aid  as  late  as  1885.  And  after  eleven 
years  of  a  checquered  career  Webb  City  was  reduced  to  a  mem- 
bership of  eleven  as  late  as  1888,  and  reported  less  than  one  hun- 
dred members  twenty-two  years  after  its  founding.  The  grants 
of  the  Home  Mission  Board  to  our  churches  were  indeed  generous. 
Year  after  year  Eureka  Springs  Church  was  recommended  for 
$700  aid  to  make  a  salary  of  $1,000,  and  other  churches  or  groups 
were  recommended  for  from  $300  to  $500  to  make  similar  home 
mission  salaries. 

In  the  latter  half  of  this  decade  three  tendencies  are  marked 
— smaller  grants  from  the  board,  smaller  salaries,  more  ministers 
ordained  and  received  without  the  educational  requirements  laid 
down  in  the  book.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  average  salary  of  the 
home  missionary  the  last  fifteen  years  is  from  20  per  cent  to  25 
per  cent  smaller  than  the  fifteen  years  before  1892,  and  if  we  con 
trast  the  price  of  commodities  and  the  increased  wealth  of  the 


62  Prbsbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

community  the  showing  would  be  far  worse.  It  appears  that  the 
Board  grew  weary  of  making  such  generous  grants,  and  while 
appropriations  were  decreased,  contributions  to  self-supporl 
were,  to  say  the  Least,  not  increased.    Inevitably  this  condition  led 

the  churches  to  request  Presbytery  to  "lay  hands"  on  uneducated 
men. 

Indeed  it  seemed  impossible  to  man  our  fields,  offering  such 
meager  salaries,  with  men  who  had  been  trained  in  college  anc! 
seminary.  But  a  greater  bane  to  progress  was  found  in  the  fact 
that  our  churches  were  many  of  them  without  the  stated  mean.s 
of  grace  a  good  part  of  the  time.  A  short  history  of  Presbyterian- 
ism in  Webb  City  contains  this  statement:  "Alter  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's departure  and  for  the  next  nine  years  the  church  was  vacant 
more  than  half  the  time.  (Non)'mirable  dictu,'  at  the  close  of 
the  interregnum  'the  church  was  reduced  to  eleven  members.' 
Alas,  many  of  the  churches  did  not  fare  even  that  well — after  pro- 
tracted vacancies  they  were  abandoned. 

The  ministerial  accessions  of  this  decade  who  left  a  permanent 
and  prominent  impress  on  the  Presbytery  were  Drs.  Marks  and 
Putnam,  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  J.  G.  Reaser.  D.  D..  T.  H.  Cleland. 
D.  D.,  and  R.  W.  Ely.  Dr.  Marks  and  Mr.  Williamson  were  pre- 
eminently the  field  workers,  serving  the  Presbytery  with  marked 
efficiency  as  Presbyterial  evangelists  at  different  times.  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson has  probably  erected  more  houses  of  worship  in  the  Pres- 
bytery than  any  three  or  four  other  ministers.  The  preaching  of 
sermons  seems  to  have  been  a  passion  with  him.  He  usually 
steered  clear  of  the  city  churches  and  acepted  a  pastorate  in  a 
group.  To  these  separate  churches  he  would  go  during  the  week 
and  hold  one  or  more  services  before  the  Sabbath  day.  Drs.  Put- 
nam and  Cleland  brought  to  the  Presbytery  wise  counsel  and 
marked  executive  ability  in  the  administration  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Chairmanship.  Dr.  Reeser,  one  of  the  most  scholarly  men 
who  has  graced  the  annals  o  fthe  Presbytery,  brought  forth  fruit 
in  old  age  first  in  educational  endeavors  connected  with  Carthage 
College  and  later  in  rehabilitating  the  church  of  Webb  City.  To- 
ward the  close  of  this  decade  Mr.  Ely  began  that  remarkably 
efficient  bishopric  of  Neosho,  if  not  of  the  Presbytery.  With 
added  vears  few  things  Presbvterial  ever  escaped  the  attention 
of  Ely.' 

1890-1907. 

For  fifteen  of  the  last  seventeen  years  of  the  Presbytery's 
existence  I  have  been  a  member.    I  therefore  write  from  personal 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  63 

observation.    This  period  marked  the  growth  of  the  city  churches. 
Note  the  following: 

Church  Year  Communicants  Year  Communicants 

Calvary  1890  375  1907  555 

Carthage   1890  346  1907  523 

Joplin  1890  53  1907  450 

Webb  City 1890  30  1907  325 

Monett 1890  *17  1907  162 

Neosho 1890  65  1907  208 

Young  people's  work  received  specific  Presbyterial  oversight 
for  the  first  time  about  the  beginning  of  this  period.  The  first 
committee  on  young  people's  work  was  appointed  in  1892. 

The  need  of  an  awakening  from  the  spiritual  lethargy  into 
which  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery,  in  common  with  the  church 
at  large,  had  fallen  was  felt  in  this  Presbytery  several  years 
before  the  Assembly  appointed  its  Evangelistic  Committee.  As 
early  as  1898  Presbytery  appointed  a  special  committee,  of  which 
Rev.  H.  O.  Scott,  D.  D..  was  the  efficient  Chairman  year  after 
year,  to  awaken  an  interest  in  the  evangelization  of  those  at  our 
doors.  This  committee  was  called  the  Committee  on  Aggressive 
Work  until  some  time  after  the  Assembly  had  appointed  its  com- 
mittee, after  which  the  name  was  changed  to  harmonize  with  that 
used  in  other  parts  of  the  church. 

Conferences  on  evangelism  were  held  in  connection  with  the 
meetings  of  Presbytery  and  evangelistic  services  were  arranged 
for  various  churches  under  the  supervision  of  the  committee. 
The  first  report  recorded  noted  "the  wisdom  of  the  plan  and 
showed  a  gain  of  sixty-five  confessions  above  last  year."  The 
increase  the  next  year  was  even  greater,  and  although  this  con- 
dition was  not  steadfastly  maintained.  Presbytery  never  entirely 
lost  the  evangelistic  stimulus  it  had  received. 

The  bone  of  contention  in  the  Presbytery  for  a  number  of 
years  was  constitutional  rule  No.  1.  i.  e.,  relative  to  local  evan- 
gelists. The  need  of  ministers,  the  dearth  of  candidates,  and  the 
meager  support  offered  conspired  to  induce  Presbytery  to  regard 
praetiealaly  every  comer  an  "exceptional"  case.  The  Presbytery 
came  to  be  known  far  and  wide  as  exceedingly  lax  in  its  educa- 
tional requirements  for  the  ministry.  Some  of  us  realized  that 
this  situation  was  impoverishing  our  churches  and  making  them 
chronically  weak  and  dependent.  Hence  we  began  to  insist  that 
those  who  sought  ordination  as  exceptional  cases  and  those  who 
came  from  other  denominations  that  had  not  received  the  educa- 
tional advantages  required  by  our  standards  should  first  try  their 
gifts  and  prove  their  "aptness  to  teach" — and  their  aptness  to 
study.     For  the  most  part    the  elders  were  against  us  and  enough 


04  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

of  the  ministers  were  on  that  side  to  make  the  contest  exceed- 
ingly spirited.  As  an  entering  wedge,  September  21.  1898,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted:  "Resolved,  That  hereafter  this 
Presbytery  will  not  enter  upon  the  examinations  of  ministers  de-~ 
siring  to  come  in  our  church  from  other  denominations,  and  par- 
ticularly from  non-Calvinistic  bodies  not  in  correspondence  with 
us.  unless  Presbytery  has  first  had  the  assurance  the  candidates 
have  studied  at  least  one  year  the  following  works:  Dr.  Shedd. 
Dr.  Hodge  or  Dr.  Henry  B.  Smith  on  theology  in  connection  with 
the  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Shorter  Catechism,  the  Form  of 
Government,  Sacraments  and  Directory  of  Worship  as  set  forth 
in  our  standards." 

In  what  one  of  those  who  advocated  raising  the  standard 
considered  an  evil  hour  the  writer  induced  the  Presbytery  to 
temporarily  dispose  of  one  case  by  applying  constitutional  rule 
No.  1.  Thenceforth  this  expedient  was  ordinarily  resorted 
to,  but  the  Presbytery  was  again  divided  into  strict  and  lax  con- 
structionists. The  elders  began  to  change  front  somewhat  as  one 
of  my  old  friends  expressed  it:  "I  used  to  say,  'There  is  a  poor 
fellow  who  wants  to  preach.'  I  would  not  listen  to  him,  but  maybe 
somebody  will;  let  him  try  it,'  Now  I  say,  'There  is  a  poor 
church ;  my  church  could  not  survive  under  such  feeble  minis- 
trations; I  must  guard  that  weak  church.'  :  By  patience  and 
persistency  the  local  evangelists  were  required  to  pursue  a  regu- 
lar course  of  study  while  exercising  their  gifts.  Those  who  re- 
fused to  do  so  either  left  the  Presbytery  or  were  discontinued: 
the  others  were  ordained  in  due  time.  In  an  observation  of 
fifteen  years  in  this  Presbytery  I  have  never  known  anything  to 
be  gained  by  hastening  the  ordination  of  an  applicant  who  was 
unprepared.  But  I  have  known  several  who  because  of  delay 
and  the  requirement  of  preparation  were  put  on  their  mettle  and 
became  quite  efficient  under  shepherds.  Such  a  change  was  ef- 
fected in  the  Presbytery  that  from  being  the  most  lax  in  the  State 
the  requirements  were  doubtless  as  rigid  as  any  in  the  State  at 
the  time  of  the  union.  So  far  as  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark  is 
concerned,  I  have  no  doubt  the  standard  will  be  maintained.  The 
Cumberland  Church  in  Southwest  Missouri  had  been,  if  anything, 
more  lax  than  the  Presbyterian.  This  condition  of  affairs  had 
sapped  the  pioneer  efficiency  of  that  body.  For  ten  years  it  had 
made  practically  no  progress.  Here,  too,  is  the  key  to  the  situa- 
tion as  to  the  strong  opposition  to  the  union.  These  statements 
are  based  directly  on  the  testimony  of  intelligent  ministers  who 
came  into  the  union  from  that  side.  One  of  the  most  discrimi- 
nating ones  assured  me  that  so  far  as  this  region  is  concerned 
there  would  have  been  a  division  in  their  ranks  had  the  union 
never  taken  place.     In  September.  1906,  Presbytery  co-operated 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  65 

with  representative  C.  P.  men  in  a  ratification  of  the  union,  and 
from  thence  forward  until  the  reorganization  of  the  Presby- 
teries the  two  bodies  co-operated  in  home  mission  endeavors,  first 
by  the  employment  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Hicks  as  pastor-evangelist  and 
then  by  the  grouping  of  churches.  In  January,  1907.  the  Home 
Mission  Committee  of  Ozark  Presbytery  held  a  conference  in  the 
Second  Church  of  Springfield  with  Synodical  Missionary  J.  B. 
Hill,  D.  D.,  Field  Secretary  B.  P.  Fullerton,  D.  D.,  and  home  mis- 
sion representatives  of  the  four  C.  P.  Presbyteries  in  Southwest 
Missouri,  that  practically  covered  the  territory  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark,  U.  S.  A.  It  was  decided  to  administer  the  home  mis- 
sion interests  of  the  various  Presbyteries,  in  part  at  least,  as 
though  the  consolidation  had  been  effected.  Rev.  E.  E.  String- 
field  was  made  tentative  Chairman  for  the  Eastern  and  Rev.  J. 
P.  Shepherd  for  the  Western  Section. 

In  the  subjoined  report  on  home  missions  taken  from  the 
minutes  of  April,  1907,  I  have  placed  in  parenthesis  the  churches 
in  the  Western  Section  that  were  formerly  Cumberland  since  they 
were  not  indicated,  as  were  those  of  the  Eastern  Section. 

"In  view  of  the  fact  that  Synods  Committee  on  Presbyterial 
Readjustments  incident  to  the  union  had  appointed  Rev.  E.  E. 
Stringfield,  Ph.  D.,  temporary  Chairman  of  Home  Misions  for 
the  Eastern  Section  of  the  Presbytery,  and  Rev.  John  F.  Shep- 
herd, Ph.  H.,  for  the  Western  Section,  the  report  of  the  Home 
Mission  Committee  was  presented  in  two  sections  by  the  respective 
chairmen.  The  reports  were  received  and  the  clerk  cast  the  bal- 
lot of  Presbytery  for  the  several  recommendations : 

For  Eastern  Section  (showing  appropriations  made  for  for- 
mer Cumberland  churches  as  well  as  our  own)  : 


66 


Presbyterianism   IN   the  (  )/.\RKS 


Groups 


A  ill   recommended — 

Ciimb.  Pres. 


Fordland  

Mountain    Grove$150 

Cabool   50 


$  75 


Groups 


( Irane 


Aid  recommended    - 
dumb.  Pres. 

250 


Marionville   

Brookline     100 


Bol  ivar   

50 

Pair  Play    

75 

( !onwa  y   

100 

Mt.  Zion  

1 1 10 

Will iii-, I    

50 

Stockton   

50 

50 

Mt.    Carmel 

Stockton    A 

100 

Evert'on  ) 

Dadeville > 

50 

Rav   Spring ) 

Spring  River    . 

Mammoth    Sp'gs 

100 

Mt.    Olivet 

100 

Bethel   

100 

j  Burnham  !..  $150 

(  Pomona  150 

Willow    Springs.  250 

j  Mountain  View..  100 
-I  Hickory  Grove...  50 
I  Liberty   50 

|  Pleasant  Divide.  75 
<  New  Providence  75 
(    Walnut    Spring...     75 

(  Walnut    Grove 100 

1  Bellview  100 

(  Buffalo    100 

Evans    100 

I  S.  Greenfield ] 

j  Spring  Creek M50 

]  Oak   Grove I 

Rondo  75 


That  Rev.  W.  ('.  Hicks  be  commissioned  as  Presbyterial  Evan- 
gelist at  a  salary  of  $1,200  and  traveling  expenses,  it  being  under- 
stood that  all  funds  collected  by  him  for  services  rendered  shall 
be  turned  over  to  the  Home  Board;  and  it  is  guaranteed  by  the 
Springfield  ministers  that  these  funds  will  equal  $400  for  the 
year. 

For  the  Western  Section  : 

(1)  That  Carterville  be  constituted  a  station  with  Rev.  O.  C. 
Cude  as  supply.  (2)  North  Heights,  Joplin,  Rev.  Samuel  Wiley, 
supply.  (3)  Grace  and  Salem.  Rev.  J.  s.  Stapleton,  supply.  (4) 
That  Madison  and  Preston  be  grouped  with  (Red  Oak)  and 
(Bowers  Mill),  Rev.  T.  S.  Brown,  supply.  (5)  Irwin.  (Hopewell'. 
(Ianthe),  Rev.  A.  E.  Faust,  supply.  (6)  That  Waldensian  Church 
be  made  a  mission  station.  (7)  That  Seneca  and  White  Oak.  or 
i  Pierce  City),  be  made  a  charge  to  be  supplied. 

Appropriations:  To  Carterville.  $500;  North  Heights,  $500; 
Grace,  $125;  Salem.  $100;  Madison,  $75;  Preston.  $75:  Irwin 
-roup.    $125;    Waldensian,    $100;    Seneca,    $100;    White   Oak   or 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  67 

(Pierce  City),  $100;  Bethany.  $150.     Hoberg  to  be  supplied  by 
J.  L.  McCauley." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  every  town  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri where  both  branches  of  the  church  had  organizations  the 
Cumberland  churches  entered  the  union.  In  some  of  these  places 
tentative  consolidations  were  effected,  whilst  in  others  perma- 
nent consolidations  were  effected  before  the  Presbyteries  were 
united. 

The  C.  P.  Church  of  Joplin  was  received  by  the  Presbytery 
in  September.  1904.  that  it  might  unite  with  the  First  Church. 
Presbytery  ratified  the  union  that  had  been  effected  at  Webb 
City  by  resolution  passed  September,  1906,  and  in  April,  1907, 
formal  union  was  Presbyterially  effected  of  the  two  churches  at 
Neosho  and  at  Mount  Vernon.  The  churches  at  Ash  Grove,  at 
Greenfield  and  at  West  Plains  contented  themselves  with  tenta- 
tive consolidations  until  the  reorganizations  of  the  Presbyteries, 
whilst  the  two  organizations  at  Carthage  and  the  four  (two  of 
each  branch)  at  Springfield  have  remained  separate.  At  the 
time  of  the  union  Ozark  Presbytery  had  apparently  entered 
upon  the  period  of  its  most  substantial  prosperity.  The  statis- 
ics  were  somewhat  affected  by  the  consolidations  alluded  to  above, 
yet  apart  from  this  the  progress  was  indeed  encouraging,  as  a 
comparison  of  the  two  years  will  show : 


I   I  £ 


G   3  t)         rs 
Xi      T3   >d 


— ;     0»     — 


S  o  '  < 


29  45  361  533  4069  4264  3440  2309  112  326  2186  182  269  1343  128  33913  year  1907 
26  42  318  224  3454  3527  2478  1797  71  141  128  137  240   395     26478  year  1906 

The  Arkansas  churches  and  ministers  by  the  terms  of  the 
enabling  act  fell  to  the  Presbyteries  in  that  State,  whilst  Vernon 
County  was  added  to  our  territory,  and  Ozark  Presbytery  was 
divided  into  two — Ozark  and  Carthage. 

On   the    29th   of   September,    1870,   the    first    Presbytery  'of 

Ozark  was  organized  at  Greenfield,  and  on  the  18th  of  June. 
1907.  its  legal  successor  was  organized  at  the  same  place.  On 
the  same  day  the  Carthage  Presbytery  was  organized  at  Webb 

City. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Bacon  was  elected  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  and  Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield  Stated  Clerk.  The  sub- 
joined extracts  from  the  minutes  will  suffice  for  a  glimpse  at  the 
origin  and  prospect  of  the  new  Presbytery. 


68  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

(From  the  Minutes  of  Ozark  Presbytery.) 

GREENFIELD.    Mo.,    dune    18,    1907. 

Pursuant  to  the  Enabling  Act  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly  May 
23.,  1907,  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  met  for  organization  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  11:30  a.   in.,  a  quorum  not  having  arrived  until   that  hour. 

Devotional   exercises  were  conducted  by  Rev.  J.   T.  Bacon. 

The  convener,  Rev.  J.  1 .  Bacon,  constituted  Presbytery  with  prayer. 
The  Clerk,  Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield,  read  the  Enabling  Act,  which  in  so  far  as 
it  relates  to  this  Presbytery  specifically  is  as  follows: 

III.  Ozark  Presbytery  shall  include  the  counties  of  Cedar  (ezcepl 
Eldorado  Springs  Church),  Christian,  Dade,  Dallas,  Douglas,  Greene,  Howell, 
Laclede,  Ozark,  Polk,  Stone,  Taney,  Texas,  Webster  and   Wright;   and  also 

all  the   ministers  and  churches  residing  within    or   located    in   said    counties. 

*  ********** 

V.  That  all  Treasurers  and  Trustees  heretofore  acting  for  or  reporting 
to '  any  of  the  Presbyteries  hereinafter  named,  in  holding  or  managing 
general  or  special  funds  or  trusts,  shall  hereafter  report  as  directed  below; 
and  shall  be  subject  to  all  orders  and  supervision  of  the  respective  new 
Presbteries  named,  to  the  same  extent  and  in  the  same  manner  as  they 
were  subject  to  the  Presbyteries  to  which  they  heretofore  reported,  viz.. 
such  officers  of  the  Presbyteries  of  *  *  Ozark,  Ozark-A,  Springfield-A, 
and  West  Plains  to  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 

VI.  That  the  new  Presbyteries  above  named,  within  the  limits  in  this 
act  assigned  them,  shall  assume  jurisdiction;  that  (except  as  otherwise  pro- 
vided in  the  foregoing  sections)  they  shall  succeed  to  all  ecclesiastical,  civil 
and  property  rights  of  the  Presbyteries  heretofore  exercising  jurisdiction 
over  said  territory;  and  that  they  shall,  within  the  said  limits,  have  anu 
hold  the  same,  with  all  the  rights,  privileges  and  immunities  thereto  be- 
longing or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  so  far  as  they  may  lawfully  do  so. 

#  *  *  *  **  ****** 

VIII.  That  the  newly  erected  Presbyteries  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri 
shall  meet  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  June,  1907,  at  the  hour  of  10  a.  m.,  and 
at  the  places  named  below,  to  organize,  to  elect  Stated  Clerks  and  Commit- 
tees, and  otherwise  to  arrange  for  the  further  conduct  of  their  business; 
and  that,  unless  otherwise  voted,  the  persons  named  below  shall  serve  or 
act  as  officers  until  their  successors  are  elected  at  the  stated  fall  meetings 
of  their  respective  Presbyteries,  viz: 

Presbytery,  Ozark;  place,  Greenfield;  convener,  J.  T.  Bacon;  clerk, 
E.  E.  Stringfield. 

Further,  the  Enabling  Act  designated  the  roll  of  the  Presbytery  as 
follows : 

Churches — Ash  Grove,  Barren  Creek,  Bellevue,  Bolivar,  Brookline,  Buf- 
falo, Burnham,  Cabool,  Cave  Spring  (Mount  Zion),  Competition,  Conway, 
Crane,  Dadeville,  Elk  Creek,  Evans,  Everton,  Fairplay,  Fordland,  Green- 
field (two  churches),  Happy  Home,  Hazel  Dell,  Heady,  Liberty,  Lockwood, 
Mansfield,  Maple  Grove,  Mount  Carmel,  Mount  Comfort,  Mount  Daue, 
Mount  Moriah,  Mount  Olivet  (Dade  County),  Mount  Zion  (Dade  County), 
Mountain  Grove,  Mountain  Home,  Mountain  View,  New  Bethel,  New  Hope, 
New  Providence,  Oak  Grove,  Peace  Valley,  Phillipsburg,  Pierson,  Pleasant 
Divide,  Pleasant  Grove,  Pleasant  Ridge,  Pleasant  Valley  (Howell  County), 
Pleasant  Valley  (Wright  County),  Pomona,  Ray  Spring,  Rondo,  Ross 
Chapel,  Seymour,  South  Greenfield,  Spring  Creek,  Springfield  Calvary, — First 
C.  P..; — Second, — Springfield  Avenue,  Stockton,  Stockton  (Gum  Spring, 
Union  Chapel,  Walnut  Grove,  Walnut  Springs,  West  Plains  (two  churches). 
White  Oak  Pond,   Willard,  Willow  Springs,  Wilson's  Creek. 

Ministers— C.    J.    Allen,   J.    T.    Bacon,   J.    H.    Barnett,   John    Bell,    S.    D. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  69 

Belt,  G.  M.  Bonner,  W.  J.  Bruce,  D.  A.  Collins,  J.  F.  Daughtrey,  Joseph 
Davis,  W.  A.  Denby,  J.  H.  Doran,  S.  A.  Gardner,  W.  J.  Garrett,  .1.  H  Glan- 
ville,  J.  M.  Glick,  S.  A.  Graves,  W.  L.  Hackett,  S.  S.  Hardin,  W.  C. 
Hicks,  J.  E.  Johnston,  J.  T.  Jones,  J.  B.  Lemmon,  Henry  Little,  J.  A. 
McCroskey,  C.  C.  McMahan,  L.  J.  Matthews,  C.  H.  Mitchelmore,  A.  B. 
Moore,  T.  C.  Newman,  G.  W.  Plummer,  E.  S.  Ramsey,  E.  L.  Renick,  E.  J. 
Rice,  J.  E.  F.  Robertson,  H.  W.  Rose,  D.  F.  Royer,  J.  A.  Russell,  W.  R. 
Russell,  E.  W.  Sage,  ,W.  E.  Shaw,  J  F.  Scherer,  R.  J.  Sims,  C.  W.  Smith, 
P.  S.  Smith,  E.  E.  Stringfield,  J.  M.  Vaughn,  D.  B.  Whimster,  M.  F  .Wells, 
J.  D.  White,  John  Wilson.  Corrections  in  the  roll  were  deferred  until 
the  fall  meeting. 

Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield,  Chairman,  presented  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Perfecting  the  Roll,  which  was  adopted  as  follows: 

The   Committee   on   Perfecting   the  Roll   submits   the   following  report. 

At  the  organization  of  this  Presbytery  the  General  Assembly  trans- 
mitted to  us  a  roll  composed  of  those  ministers  and  churches  located  within 
our  confines  that  formerly  belonged  to  the  Presbyteries  of  Ozark,  Ozark-A, 
Springfield  and  West  Plains.  So  far  as  the  former  Cumberland  Presby- 
teries were  concerned  the  Assembly  in  this  Enabling  Act  embraced  all 
ministers  who  were  members  May  24th,  1906,  and  who  had  not  been 
regularly  dismissed  to  some  other  body.  But  in  view  of  the  fact  that  these 
Presbyteries  had  formed  new  rolls  in  the  interim,  from  which  rolls  ihore 
who  had  formally  renounced  the  action  of  the  Assemblies  on  the  subject 
of  union  had  been  excluded,  this  committee  was  appoint  3d.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  its  duties  your  committee  gives  due  credit  to  the  acts  of  the 
several  Presbyteries  and  therefore  presents  for  the  present  roll  of  this 
Presbytery  the  ministers  and  churches  within  our  bounds  on  the  amended 
rolls  of  the  several  Presbyteries.  As  none  of  the  churches  were  excluded 
by  these  Presbyteries  we  recommend  that  the  Enabling  Act  govern  the 
enrolling  of  churches. 
As  to  the  Ministers: 

The  Presbytery  of  Springfield,  in  session  at  Seymour,  September,  190G, 
passed   the   following   resolution: 

Whereas,  the  retiring  Moderator,  the  Rev.  T.  C.  Newman,  declared 
that  it  is  his  purpose  and  the  purpose  of  the  brethren  whose  names  are 
hereinafter  given  to  repudiate  the  action  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
C.  P.  Church  meeting  at  Decatur,  111.,  May,  1906,  on  the  question  of  union 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  IT.  S.  A.,  resolved  that  the  names  of  the 
following  ministers  be  dropped  from  our  roll:  J.  H.  Barnett,  Joseph  Davis, 
A.  B.  Moore,  T.  C.  Newman,  J.  A.  Russell  and  M.  F.  Wells 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark-A,  at  Golden  City,  Mo.,  August  29,  1906, 
took  the  following  action:  "Whereas,  the  following  ministers,  to-wit,  J. 
F.  Daughtrey,  G.  T.  Jeffers,  J.  T.  Jones,  C.  G.  L.  McMahan,  R.  S.  Ram- 
say, W.  E.  Shaw  and  I.  V.  Stines,  have  renounced  the  action  of  the  late 
General  Assembly  of  the  C  P.  Church  at  Decatur,  111.,  and  the  authority  of 
the  united  church,  which  is  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  and  organ- 
ized a  separate  Presbytery,  resolved  that  their  names  be  dropped  from 
our   roll." 

While  the  Presbytery  of  West  Plains  took  similar  action,  yet  as  none 
of  the  names  dropped  by  that  Presbytery  appear  in  the  Enabling  Act 
creating  this  Presbytery  it  is  not  necessary  to  record  that  action  at  this 
place. 

We  find  an  error  in  the  initials  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Graves  in  the  Enabling 
Act,  to-wit:     Said  act  gives  them  as  "S.  A.,"  instead  of  "J.  A." 

We  also  find  that  the  name  of  R.  J.  Sims  was  inadvertently  placed  on 
our  roll  by  the  Enabling  Act,  whereas  he  properly  belongs  to  the  Presb}'- 
tery  of  Carthage,  where  he  will  be  enrolled. 


70 


Presbyterianism  in  thk  Ozarks 


Making  the  correction  in  Brother  Graves'  initials  and  omitting  these 
names  and  thai  of  Rev.  D.  B.  Whimster,  dismissed  by  this  body  to  the 
Presbytery    of   St.   Joseph,   we    recommend    that    at    present    our    roll 

follows:' 

C.  J.  Allen,  .1.  T.  Bacon,  John  Bell,  S.  D.  Belt,  G.  M.  Bonner,  \V.  .1. 
Bruce,  l>.  A.  Collins,  \V.  A.  Denby,  J.  II.  Doran,  8.  A.  Gardner,  \V.  .1 . 
Garrett,  J.  II.  Glanville,  J.  M.  Glick  A.  .1.  Graves,  W.  L.  Hackett,  8.  8. 
Hardin,  .W.  C.  Hicks,  J.  E.  Johnston,  .1.  B.  Lemmon,  Henry  Little,  J. 
A..  McCroskey,  L.  J.  Matthews,  C.  II.  Mitchelm'ore,  G.  W.  Plummer,  I..  L. 
Kenick,  E.  J.  Rice,  .1.  K.  F.  Robertson.  II.  W.  Rose,  I).  I\  Royer,  W.  R. 
Russell,  E.  W.  Sage,  .1.  P.  Scherer,  C.  W.  Smith,  P.  s.  Smith,  E.  E.  String- 
field,  J.  M.  Vaughn.  .1.   D.  White,  John   Wilson. 

As  the  Enabling  Ael  did  not  include  the  names  of  licentiates  and  ean 
didates  we  enroll  them  here. 

Licentiates — O.  II.  Campbell,  J.   C.    Bigbee. 

Candidates — George    Scherer,    Riley    Van    Buskirk. 
As  to  the  Churches: 

It   appears  thai    there   is   no  church  by  the  name   of    Heady,  as 
in   the   Enabling  Act,  but   that    this   is  the   postoffice   for  the   church  given 
later   under   the   name   of  Ross    Chapel. 

The  Pleasant  Hope  Church  was  inadvertently  omitted  from  the  En- 
abling Act. 

The    Presbytery    having    consolidated    the    churches    at    Ash    Grove,    at 
Greenfield    and    at    West    Plains,    there    still    remain    two    churches    by    the 
name  of  Mount   Zion,  two  by  the   name  of  Pleasant   Valley  and  CW0  b} 
name    of    Storkton. 

On  account  of  local  conditions  it  is  not  deemed  advisable  ?i  present 
to  make  any  recommendations  looking  to  the  change  of  name  where  two 
churches    have   the   same   name. 

We  recommend  that  the  roll  of  churches  at  present  lie  as  follows: 

Ash  Grove,  Barren  Creek,  Belleview,  Bolivar,  Brookline,  Buffalo,  Bum- 
ham,  Cabool,  Competition,  Conway,  Crane,  Dadeville,  Ebenezer,  Elk  Creek, 
Evans,  Everton,  Fair  Play,  Fordland,  Happy  Home,  Hazel  Pell.  Liberty, 
Lockwood,  Mansfield,  Maple  Grove,  Mount  Carmel,  Mount  Comfort,  Mounl 
Dade,  Mount  Moriah,  Mount  Olivet,  Mount  Zion  (Dade  County),  Mount 
Zion  (Greene  County),  Mountain  Grove,  Mountain  Home.  Mountain  View, 
New  Bethel,  New  Hope,  New  Providence,  Oak  Grove,  Peace  Valley,  Phil- 
lipsburg,  Pierson,  Pleasant  Divide,  Pleasant  Grove,  Pleas-mi  Hope,  Pleas- 
ant Ridge,  Pleasant  Valley  (Howell  County),  Pleasant  Valley  (Wright 
County),  Pomona,  Ray  Spring,  Rondo,  Ross  Chapel,  Seymour,  South  Green- 
field, Spring  Creek.  Springfield  Calvary — First  C.  P.— Second — Springfield 
Avenue,  Stockton,  Stockton  (Gum  Spring),  Union  Chapel,  Walnut  Grove, 
Walnut  Springs,  West  Plains,  White  Oak  Pond.  Willard,  Willow  IL'p] 
.Wilson's   Creek. 

We  recommend  that  the  committee  b  econtinued,  with  a  view  to  dis 
covering  what  churches  are  opposed  to  remaining  in  the  United  Church. 

E.    E.    STRINGFIELD 
.1.    M.    GLICK, 
W.E.    RUSSELL, 

t  lommil 

Supplemental  Report  of  Committee  on  Perfecting  Roll: 

Inasmuch    as    it     appears    that     the    Ozark    Church     was     inadvertently 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  71 

dropped  from  the  roll  of  the  former  Springfield   Presbytery,  we  recommend 
that  the  Ozark  Church  be  restored  to  the  roll. 

(April    I5th,    1908.) 
Perfecting  Roll. 

Bev.  E.  E.  Stringfield,  Chairman,  presented  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Perfecting  the  Roll.  The  report  stated  that  there  were  fifty  - 
four  churches  formerly  Cumberland  Presbyterian  that  were  assigned  to  this 
Presbytery  by  the  Enabling  Act,  including  the  church  of  Ozark,  which  the 
Presbytery  restored  to  the  roll;  that  three  of  these,  Ash  Grove,  Greenfield 
and  West  Plains,  had  been  consolidated  with  existing  Presbyterian  U.  S. 
A.  churches  in  these  towns;  that  it  is  now  deemed  expedient  to  consoli- 
date the  Dadeville  and  Mount  Olivet  churches  under  the  name  of  Dadeville? 
and  that  of  the  remaining  fifty  churches  twenty-six  report  to  this  Presby- 
tery and  twenty-four  have  not  yet  acknowledged  our  jurisdiction.  The 
strength  of  the  union  movement,  however,  is  greater  than  these  figures 
would  indicate,  as  the  opposition  exists  for  the  most  part  in  the  smaller 
churches,  and  even  in  these  respectaable  minorities  favor  the  union. 

The  resolutions  of  the  report  were  adopted,  as  follows: 

(1)  That  all  the  churches  be  retained  on  one  roll  at  present. 

(2)  That  the  Presbytery  send  to  the  General  Assembly  the  following 
overture : 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  respectfully  overtures  the   General   Assembly 

to  retain   the  following  churches  on  the  roll,  but  to  omit   the   membership 

and  all  statistical   information  concerning  them  for  the   following  reasons: 

(a)   While  some  of  these  churches  are  negotiating  with  us  none  of  them 

are  co-operating  with  this  Presbytery. 

(b)  All  of  them  are  enrolled  in  anti-union  Presbyteries,  +hough  at 
present  it  does  not  seem  best  for  us  to  drop  them. 

(c)  The  only  available  statistics  as  to  membership,  etc.,  are  utterly 
unreliable.  The  churches  are:  Barren  Creek,  Competition,  Happy  Home, 
Hazel  Dell,  Mansfield,  Maple  Grove,  Mount  Comfort,  Mount  Dale,  Mount 
Moriah,  Mountain  Home,  New  Bethel,  New  Hope,  Peace  Valley,  Pierson, 
Pleasant  Grove,  Pleasant  Hope,  Pleasant  Ridge,  Pleasant  Valley  (Howell 
County),  Pleasant  Valley  (Wright  County),  Ross  Chapel,  Seymour,  Union 
Chapel,  White  Oak  Pond,  Wilson  Creek. 

(3)  That  Mount  Olivet  be  consolidated  with  Dadeville. 

The  origin  and  the  prospects  of  the  Carthage  Presbytery 
are  suggested  in  these  extracts  from  its  minutes: 

The  first  session  of  the  Carthage  Presbytery  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  U.  S.  A.,  convened  in  pursuance  to  the  order  of  the  General  As- 
sembly  at  the  First  Presbvterian  Church,  Webb  City,  Mo.,  on  Tuesday, 
June  18th,  1907,  at  10   a.   m. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  he 
having  been  designated  as  convener  by  the  late  General  Assembly,  who 
preached  a  sermon  from  the  text  Joshua  1:9 — "Be  strong  and  of  good 
courage. ' ' 

The  Enabling  Act  passed  by  the  General  Assembly,  providing  for  the 
organization  of  this  Presbytery,  was  read  and  is  as  follows: 

ENABLING    ACT. 

To  Whom  It  .May  Concern:  The  General  Assembly,  in  session  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  .May  I'M.  1907,  took  the  following  action  affecting  the  Synod 
of   Missouri,   viz: 


72  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

*  *  *  That  all  Treasurers  and  Trustees  acting  for  or  reporting  to 
any  of  the  Presbyteries   hereinafter   named   shall    report   to  The 

Presbytery  of  Neosho-A   to   the  New  Presbytery  of  Cartilage. 

Presbytery,    Carthage;    place    of    meeting,   Webb    City;    convenor,    0.    II. 

Williamson;    clerk    A.    K.    Perry. 

CARTHAGE   PRESBYTERY. 

Churches — Allia,  Aurora,  Baker,  Berwick,  Bethel,  Bethlehem,  Big 
Spring,  Bowers'  Mill,  Carl  Junction,  Carterville,  Cartilage  (First),  Car- 
thage (Main  Street),  Cassville,  Center  Creek,  Central,  Central  Union,  Clay 
Hill,  Concord,  Diamond,  Downey,  Duval,  El  Dorado  Springs,  Ellis,  Fair- 
haven,  Golden  City,  Grace,  Eoberg,  Hopewell.  Tantha,  Irwin,  Jasper,  Joplin, 
(First),  North  Heights,  Bethany,  Madison,  Marionville,  Mars  Hill,  Milford, 
Monett,  Mount  Joy,  Mount  Pleasant,  Mount  Vernon  (two  churches),  Neo- 
sho, Nevada  (two  churches).  New  Bethel,  New  Salem,  Opolis,  Ozark  Prairie, 
Pierce  City,  Preston,  Purdy,  Bed  Oak,  Bichards,  Bitchev,  Roper  Hill,  Sa- 
lem, Sarcoxie,  Seligman,  Seneca,  Southwest  City,  Spring  Biver  (Jarper 
County),  Spring  Biver  (Lawrence  County),  Stotts  City,  Verona,  Walden- 
sian,  Washburn,  Webb  City,  Wentworth,  White  Oak. 

Ministers — T.  S.  Brown,  J.  M.  Burdge,  J.  F.  Clark,  O.  C.  Cud",  \.  E. 
Faust,  A.  K.  Gurley,  G.  F.  Harbour,  B.  Hoffman,  J.  W.  Hudiburg,  G.  I. 
Jeffers,  Williams  Jennings,  B.  L.  Kinnaird,  E.  W.  Love,  K.  W.  McCracken, 
Wt.  C.  Mahr,  M.  C.  Miller,  A.  E.  Perry,  H.  Pinkston,  J.  D.  Prigmore,  J. 
F.  Shepherd,  B.  M.  Shive,  J.  S.  Stapleton,  I.  V.  Stines,  J.  W.  Sullivan, 
Hutson  Taylor,  Samuel  Wiley,  G.  H.  Williamson,  D.  N  Woods,  E  H. 
Whitehead. 

Counties- — Barry,  Barton,  Jasper,  Lawrence,  McDonald,  Newt>i«,  Ver- 
non (except  the  church  of  Schell  City);  also  the  church  of  Eldorado  Springs 
(Cedar  County.) 

After  the  reading  of  this  act,  the  constituting  prayer  was  offered  by 
Bev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  the  convener.  A  roll  of  members  present  was 
formed  and  is  as   follows : 

Ministers— T.  S.  Brown,  A.  E.  Faust,  O.  C.  Cude,  \.  K.  Gurley,  G.  F. 
Harbour,  B.  Hoffman,  J.  W.  Hudiburg,  B.  L.  Kinnaird,  E.  W.  Love,  E. 
W.  McCracken,  M.  C.  Miller,  A.  E.  Perry,  H.  Pinkston,  J.  F.  Shepherd,  B. 
M.  Shive,  J.  S.  Stapleton,  J.  W.  Sullivan,  Huston  Taylor,  G.  H.  Wil- 
liamson, G.   W.   McWhirter,  F.   M.  Johnson. 

Congregations  Represented — Aurora,  E.  B.  McGregor;  Carthage,  First, 
C.  F.  McElroy;  Carterville,  R.  T.  Hurley;  Carthage,  Mini  Street,  J.  A. 
Prather;  Cassville,  W.  A.  Wear;  El  Dorado  Springs,  J.  N.  Schefer;  Jasper, 
George  Andrews;  Joplin  First,  G.  B.  Young;  Joplin  North  Heights,  W.  A. 
Wheatley;  Monett,  S.  A.  Chapell;  Nevada,  Charles  Thorn.  Sarcoxie,  S.  P. 
Burress;  Spring  Biver  (Lawrence  County),  C.  L.  Garwood;  Webb  City, 
C.  W.  Jocelyn. 

A  nominating  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Moderator,  co'.'sisting 
of  Bevs.  Huston  Taylor,  E.  W.  McCracken,  E.  W.  Love  and  B.  L.  Kianaird, 
and  Elders  E.  B.  McGregor  and  C.  W  Jocelyn,  to  nominate  officers  pnd 
permanent  committees  of  the  Presbytery 

Recess  was  taken  until  the  call  of  the  Moderator. 

Afternoon  Session. — At  1:30  the  Presbytery  was  called  to  order  by  the 
Moderator  and  led  in  prayer  by  Elder  J.  A.  Prather. 

The  report  of  the  committee  to  nominate  members  of  a  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  Presbytery  was  received  and  adopted,  a  J  follows: 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  73 

TRUSTEES. 

Term   to  expke  September,   1908 — W.  B.   Skinu-r,   Rev.   G.    P.   Harbour. 

Term  to  expire  September,  1909 — W.  A.  Wear,  liev.   JI.   Pinkston. 

Term  to  expire  September,  1907 — A.  G.  Young    Rev.  G.   IT.  Williamson. 

Terms  to  expire  at  fall  meeting  of  Presbytery. 

The  report  of  the  committee  to  nominate  offiosrs  ami  permanent  com- 
mit'eeE  of  Presbytery  was  received,  adopted,  and  is  as  follows: 

Iv'oderator,  Rsv.  H.   Pinkston:   StQ.ted   Clerk,   Rev.  R.   L.   Kinnaird. 

Home  Missions  Committee — Chairman,  Rev.  J.  F.  Shepherd;  Rev.  E. 
W  IvIcCraeken,  Dr.  B.  M.  Shive,  Elder  T.  B.  Burress,  Elder  W.  A.  Wheat- 
ley.  .  I 

Foreign  Missions — Chairman,  Rev.  Huston  Taylor,  Rev.  E.  W.  Love, 
Pr   B.  M.  Shive,  Elder  C.  W.  Jocelyn. 

Young  People's  Societies — Chairman,  Rev  A.  E.  Perry;  Rvv.  W.  C. 
Mahr,  Elder  D.  M.  Knight. 

Publication  and  Sabbath  School?— -Chairman,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hulibr.rg; 
Rev.  E.  W.  McCracken,  Elders  Charles  Thorn,  G.  W.  Rinker. 

Education  and  Examination  of  Candidates — Chairman,  Rev.  Dr.  B. 
M.  Stive,  Rev.  R.  L.  Kinnaird,  Eldar  A.  G.  Young. 

Temperance  and  Sabbath  Observance — Chairman,  Rev.  J.  T.  Staple- 
ton;  Rev.  A.  E.  Perry,  Elder  E.  W.  Newton. 

College  Board — Chairman,  Elder  A.  B.  McConnell;  Dr.  J.  F.  Shepherd, 
Rev.  R,  L.  Kinnaird,  Elder  D.  M  Knight. 

Brotherhood — Chairman,  Elder  W.  I.  Spurgin;  Elder  .).  T.  Evans,  O. 
II.  Bilger,  W.  B.  Skinner. 

Systematic  Beneficence — Chairman,  Rev.  O.  C.  Oufle;  Revs.  G.  B.  Young, 
Joseph   Hudson. 

Narrative  and  Necrology — -Chairman,  Rev.  H.  Pinkston ;  Rev.  G.  H. 
Williamson,  B.  Hoffman. 

Ministerial  Relief — Chairman,  Elder  W.  B.  Skinner;  Revs.  A.  K.  Gur- 
ley,  A.  E.  Faust. 

Church  Erection — Chairman,  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson;  Elders  J.  A.  Pra- 
ther,  Samuel  Chapell. 

Freedmen — Chairman,  Rev.  G.  F.  Harbour;  Rev.  E.  W.  Love,  Elder  J. 
L.  Osborne. 

To  Draw  Up  Standing  Rules  of  Presbytery — Chairman,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Shepherd;  Rev.  Huston  Taylor,  Elder  D.  M.  Knight. 

To  Perfect  Roll  of  Presbytery  and  Prepare  Docket  for  the  Fall  Meet- 
ing of  Presbytery — Chairman,  Rev.  R.  L.  Kinnaird;   Rev.  H.   Pinkston. 

We  recommend  that  the  following  churches  be  recognized  as  denying 
our  jurisdiction  and  therefore  as  temporarily  withdrawn  from  our  control, 
whose  allegiance  we  fully  expect  when  misapprehensions  are  cleared  away: 
Berwick,  Clay  Hill,  Hopewell,  Iantha,  Milford,  Mars  Hill,  Mount  Joy,  Ne- 
vada and  Big  Spring,  Central,  New  Betehel  and  Fairhaven,  and  while  not 
relinquishing  our  right  to  Presbyterial  oversight  and  property  interests, 
we  nevertheless  for  the  present  await  with  kindly  forbearance  the  time 
wljen  our  great  united  church  shall  all  see  eye  to  eye. 

We  recommend  that  the  following  be  disbanded  and  the  property,  where 
there  is  property,  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  of  Presbytery  for 
disposition:      Alba,  Bethlehem,   Central    Union,   Duvall,   Ellis,    Mount   Pleas- 


74  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

ant,  Salem  (Lawrence  County),  Roper  Hill.  Opolis,  Lehigh  (Cut]  Junction, 
Seligman,  Spring  River  (Jasper  County). 

We  recommend  the  changing  of  names  of  our  churches,  if  possible,  to 
conform  to  the  city  or  town  where  located,  and  also  so  as  to  avoid  confu- 
sion of  churches  by  the  same   name 

As  the  union  of  the  two  churches  in  Webb  City  resulted  in 
the  organization  of  a  new  church  a1  Carterville,  to  which  was 
given  the    house  of    owrship  formerly  belonging  to  the    C.    I'. 

Church  of  Webb  City,  so  the  churches  of  Springfield,  though 
situated  so  that  consolidations  were  not  advisable,  resolved  to 
commemorate  the  union  in  some  fitting  manner.  As  a  result 
the  Calvary,  First  Cumberland  and  Second  Presbyterian  donated 
a  lot  and  house  of  worship  to  the  new  organization  effected  May 
31,  1908,  and  known  as  the  Reunion  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Springfield. 

The  union  bodes  much  for  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest 
Missouri. 

Since  its  organization  in  1870  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  has 
asked  the  Home  Mission  Board  for  over  $75,000  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  its  work  and  the  Board  of  Church  Erection  for  over 
$20,000.  How  much  of  this  has  been  received  I  am  unable  to  say, 
but  probably  $50,000  of  home  mission  funds  and  $18,000  of  church 
erection — a  vast  sum.  But  the  results  cannot  be  tabulated.  The 
churches  have  given  to  the  church  at  large  ministers  and  mission- 
aries, members  that  have  made  glad  the  city  of  our  God. 

THE  COST  OF  A  BOY. 

"How  much  does  a  Missouri  boy  cost?"  asked  Walter  Williams. 

"Fathers  and  guardians  with  boys  to  bring  up  estimate  that  $3,000  will 
rear  to  manhood  the  average  Missouri  boy,  will  semi  him  seven  months  in 
the  year  for  eight  years  to  the  district  school,  four  years  to  high  school 
and  four  years  to  college  or  university.  This  amount  will  cover  his  food, 
clothing,  books  and  stationery.  It  will  even  permit  a  margin  for  "  tom- 
f oolness, "  as  one  father  picturesquely  styles  amusements. 

The  cost  to  the  State  is,  on  the  average,  $760  for  each  boy.  Of  this 
amount,  $180  is  for  the  elementary  school,  $180  for  the  high  school,  and 
$100  a  year  for  the  four  years  at  the  university.  The  State  pays  $7(i0  and 
the  parent  pays  $2,240,  and  the  net  result  is  one  Missouri  boy,  educated 
in  Missouri  schools  for  life. 

Yes,  and  it  pays.  So  it  pays  to  plant  a  stalwart  church,  whose 
conserving  and  stalwart  ideals  are  imprinted  on  State  and  church 
beyond  denominational  confines.  The  cost  is  mentioned  not  by 
way  of  complaint,  but  rather  that  he  who  reads  may  ponder  the 
fact  that  we  are  debtors  so  great,  and  that  having  freely  received, 
the  time  was  long  since  overdue  when  we  should  have  freely 
civen. 


Presbvterianism  in  the  Ozarks  75 


CHAPTER  IV. 


WOMAN'S   PRESBYTERIAL   SOCIETY. 

In  April,  1907,  the  Woman's  Presbterial  Society  held  its  last 
meeting  before  the  reorganization  of  the  Presbyteries  in  Mount 
Vernon.  At  that  time  a  historical  sketch  of  the  thirty-one  years 
of  the  society's  existence  was  read  by  Mrs.  W.  S.  Knight  and 
published  in  a  local  paper.  I  shall  let  the  women  speak  for  them- 
selves by  inserting  that  paper  here : 


THIRTY-ONE   YEARS 
Of  History  of  the  Woman's  Ozark  Presbyterial  Missionary  Society. 

From  the  records  we  learn  that  this  society  was  organized  at  Green- 
field in  1876,  and  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  earnest  efforts  of  Mr.  Dunlap, 
then  pastor  of  the  Springfield  Church,  and  his  wife,  who  was  the  first 
President,   serving  until    1881. 

There  were  many  who  were  quite  uncertain  as  to  the  exact  position 
that  should  be  taken  with  reference  to  such  an  innovation,  and  Mrs.  Dunlap 
tells  us  that  many  of  the  ministers  sat  near  the  door  watching  the  proceed- 
ings carefully,  one  minister  taking  the  precaution  to  advise  his  wife  to 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  But  dear  Dr.  Allen  was  an  inspiration  and 
help.  He  made  an  address  full  of  tirring,  helpful  words,  and  said  he 
hould,  upon  his  return  home,  tell  the  women  of  St.  Louis  that  a  live, 
wide-awake  Presbyterial  missionary  society  has  been  organized  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  State,  and  urge  them  to  organize  a  mission  board  for 
this  territory.  So  this  small  beginning  was  already  having  an  influence  in 
widening  the  work.     So  little  do  we  realize  the  influence  of  our  actions. 

Little  more  than  an  organization  was  effected  at  this  first  meeting. 
The  Springfield  societys  had  been  organized  for  some  time  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  Philadelphia  Board.  Only  one  or  two  other  missionary 
societies  had  been  formed  in  the  Presbytery,  but  the  next  spring  the  South- 
west Board  was  organized. 

The  next  society  was  organized  at  Carthage  in  April,  1877,  at  the  ur- 
gent request  of  Mrs.  J.  ,W.  Allen,  of  St.  Louis. 

The  record  are  not  very  complete  for  the  first  few  years,  but  no  meet- 
ing was  held  in  1887  as  far  as  is  known.  This  may  have  been  the  year 
that  it  was  appointed  at  Maple  Grove  and  bad  weather  prevented  the  ladies 
from  attending.  Mention  was  made  of  a  meeting  at  Preston  in  1878, 
then  of  one  at  Bell  view  in  1879.  Several  reports  are  mentioned,  though  no 
list  of  auxilaries  is  given,  hut  we  infer  that  the  number  was 
growing.       In     1880     no     meeting     was     mentioned.       In     1881     the     meet- 


76  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

iny  was  appointed  at  Grand  Prairie,  but  the  thunder  storm  com- 
pelled the  ladies  to  meet  in  Springfield  at  Mrs.  Emery's  house.  Mrs. 
Boyden  was  President  and  Mrs.  Wilson  was  Secretary.  At  this  time  Hie 
minutes  began  to  increase  and  the  work  seemed  to  expand  somewhat  with 
the  account  of  the  next  meeting  in  1882  at  Neosho.  At  this  meeting  the 
Greenfield  Society  became  auxiliary.  A  letter  from  Miss  Cundall,  who 
seemed  to  be  acting  as  secretary  at  the  board  rooms,  spoke  of  Miss  Griffin 
as  a  young  missionary  who  was  going  out  to  the  Laos  and  the  Springfield 
Society  would  help  to  pay  her  salary.  We  think  now  of  Miss  (iriffin  as  one 
of  our  older  missionaries.  The  commendation  of  Presbytery  on  the  work 
was  spoken  of  at  this  meeting.  Mrs.  Salmon  was  elected  President.  At 
the  eighth  annual  meeting  at  Carthage  a  regular  roll  of  auxiliaries  was 
first  called — Greenfield  W.  M.  S.,  Maple  Grove,  Ozark  Prairie,  Society  of 
the  Waldensian  Church,  near  Pierce  City;  Springfield  W.  M.  S.  and  Y.  L. 
S.,  and  Lydia  Band,  Carthage,  Walnut  Grove,  Webb  City,  Shiloh,  Salem 
and  Preston,  and  the  newly  formed  society  at  Joplin,  fourteen  W.  M.  S. 
and  one  band.  Interest  in  the  school  in  Indian  Territory,  where  Mr.  Charles 
Miller  was  working,  resulted  in  taking  a  scholarship  there.  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler was  elected  President,  but  before  the  next  meeting  he  had  removed 
to  Indian  Territory.  According  to  the  board  report,  the  next  spring  after 
this  meeting  this  Presbyterial  society  raised  this  year,  1883,  $339.40.  It 
was  the  seventh  year  of  the  board 's  existence,  but  the  first  year  that  min- 
utes were  printed  of  the  annual  meeting. 

In  1884  we  assembled  at  Eureka  Springs  and  found  ourselves  with 
only  two  officers  present,  Mrs.  Miller  having  left  us  and  Mrs.  Emery,  our 
Vice-President,  being  sick.  However,  we  had  quite  a  good  number  of  dele- 
gates present,  and  we  fell  back  on  our  standby,  Mother  McFarland,  and 
found  that  it  was  a  meeting  long  to  be  remembered  for  its  spiritual  tone. 
We  had  with  us  two  missionaries — Miss  Fannie  Cundall,  home  from  Syria, 
and  Dr.  Johnson,  of  India.  None  who  heard  her  will  soon  forget  Miss 
Cundall.  She  went  from  this  meeting  throughout  the  Presbytery,  visiting 
societies  and  inspiring  all  with  a  greater  interest  in  the  work.  It  was  the 
first  time  a  missionary  had  visited  in  the  Presbytery  and  the  first  time 
that  many  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  well  any  returned  missionary. 
The  effect  of  her  tour  was  most  helpful  then  and  lasting  in  its  results. 

One  thing  of  especial  interest  at  this  meeting  was  the  addition  of  two 
bands  to  the  roll — Daisy  Chain  Band  of  Greenfield  and  Deo  Data  of  Car- 
thage. It  was  at  the  meeting  in  1885  at  Neosho  that  the  first  record  ap- 
pears on  the  minutes  of  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  although  there 
seems  to  have  been  such  a  document.  Seventeen  societies  were  reported 
at  this  time  and  steady  growth  shown.  Mrs.  McMillan,  of  Carthage,  was 
elected  President  and  Mrs.  Robeson  Vice-President.  Both  these  workers 
have  left  our  side  and  are  enjoying  their  heavenly  home. 

The  next  year  was  our  first  milestone,  our  tenth  anniversary,  held  in 
Greenfield,  where  the  society  organized.  Mrs.  McFarland  will  not  soon 
forget  that  this  meeting,  for  which  so  much  thought  had  been  expended, 
was  without  an  officer  present. 

But  her  relief  was  great  when  she  saw  Mrs.  Fry,  of  Joplin,  come  in, 
and,  though  a  stranger,  she  knew  from  her  face  there  was  a  woman  to  be 
relied  upon.  And  this  proved  to  be  no  disappointment,  for  the  meeting  was 
one  of  unusual  power  and  interest.  The  roll  had  enlarged  to  twenty-three 
societies.  Mrs.  Emery  wrote  and  sent  a  glance  at  the  ten  years '  work,  in 
which  she  spoke  of  all  the  interesting  circumstances  of  its  organization. 
Over  and  again  the  evidence  of  the  Spirit 's  presence  in  this  anniversary 
meeting  is  spoken  of.  The  beginning  was  discouraging,  but  blessings  were 
in  store.     The  gifts  of  the  society  in  its  tenth  year  were  $483.28,  not  large. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  77 

but   so   much   of   our   territory   was   then   mission   ground   that   it   stood  for 
much  more  than  a  larger  sum  now. 

The  meeting  of  1887  at  Carthage  was  interesting  for  its  large  attend 
ance  and  touches  of  personal  effort  in  the  cause.  Mrs.  Lafferty,  of  Bolivar, 
asked  to  become  a  member,  as  there  was  no  society  in  her  church,  in  spite 
of  all  her  efforts.  This  was  the  beginning  of  interest  in  Bolivar,  for  the 
next  year  a  good  society  had  been  formed  and  the  Presbyterial  Society  met 
there.  The  attendance  on  the  meeting  of  the  board  had  become  by  t*iis 
time  much  larger  and  the  delegates'  reports  helped  to  interest  others  at 
the  meetings  and  had  its  effect  on  the  work  in  general.  Mrs.  Fry  presided 
at  this  meeting  and  before  another  year  she,  too,  had  been  called  away. 
How  we  missed  her!  .When  we  assembled  at  Bolivar  we  were  once  more 
without  a  leader.  Mrs.  Kenton  as  Vice-President  spoke  tender  words  of 
our.  loss.  Also  Mrs.  Emery  was  affectionately  remembered,  as  sne,  too,  was 
called  away  that  year.  The  Wide-Awakes  of  Ash  Grove  and  the  Hamilton 
Band  of  Springfield  were  added  to  the  ten  bands  in  1888.  Bands  flour- 
ished then.     Mrs.  Kenton  was  elected  President. 

Our  next  meeting  was  held  at  Lamar  in  the  Southern  Church,  as  Pres- 
bytery was  meeting  at  Irwin.  You  will  no  doubt  remember  this  year  was 
the  year  that  the  board  met  in  Carthage,  and  that  at  that  time  tha  medical 
scholarship  fund  was  started  which  has  been  such  a  blessing  to  our  mission 
work  in  foreign  lands.  The  Deo  Data  Band  had  the  honor  of  giving  the 
first  dollar  to  it  at  the  Presbterial  meeting  in  Lamar.  It  was  reported  that 
up  to  this  time  our  Presbytery  had  raised  $100  of  the  necessary  $1,000. 
We  had  had  visits  at  various  meetings  from  Miss  Nutting  of  Utah,  Miss 
Y^oung  of  India,  Miss  Warner  of  Japan,  and  in  1890  Miss  Geisinger,  who 
returned  from  India  after  her  first  term  of  service,  was  with  us.  And  from 
the  meeting  she  made  a  tour  of  the  Presbytery.  We  remember  her,  too, 
as  Mrs.  Morrison  later  on,  and  on  a  New  Year's  Day  not  long  agi  she  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus  after  years  of  useful  missionary  life. 

The  meeting  of  1891  at  Eureka  Springs  was  the  one  when  a  gold  ring 
was  found  in  the  collection,  to  which  was  attached  the  story  of  the  Iron 
Cross.  We  all  remember  the  circumstances.  And  how  with  I  he  voluntary 
offerings  of  the  auxiliaries,  which  brought  a  goodly  sum  for  missions,  we 
purchased  it  and  with  it  wedded  to  us  our  dear  Mrs.  McFarland,  who  con- 
sidered herself  from  that  day  engaged  to  the  Presbyterial  Missionary  So 
ciety,  to  labor  with  and  for  it.     And  she  was  true  to  her  vows  until  called. 

The  meeting  in  Neosho,  in  1892,  was  marked  by  the  receipt  of  a  gift 
of  $500  from  Mrs.  Jennie  Orr,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  by  the  reaching,  besides 
this,  the  $1,000  mark.  Having  thus  $1,500  to  give  to  home  and  foreign 
missions,  the  committee  on  reports  recommended  that  in  order  not  to  fall 
below  the  amount  the  following  year  we  make  every  effort  to  reach  the 
same  mark  the  following  year.  Half  of  Mrs.  Orr 's  gift  was  appropriated 
to  building  a  home  for  Mrs.  Baird,  in  Fusan,  Kprea.  It  was  this  year 
that  the  Southwest  Board  became  a  foreign  board,  giving  over  the  home 
mission  work  to  the  Women 's  Executive  Committee,  now  the  Woman 's 
Board  of  Home  Missions.  While  no  change  was  made  in  our  methods  of 
work,  the  change  brought  the  two  branches  of  the  work  more  distinctly 
before  us  and  tended  to  increase  the  gift  to  each. 

In  1893  the  meeting  was  again  at  Greenfield,  and  Mrs.  F.  S.  Orr  was 
elected  President.  The  gifts  were  increased  over  $100  from  the  year  be- 
fore, but  did  not  yet  reach  the  $1,500  mark  without  the  bequest  referred  to. 

In  1894  the  meeting  was  at  Jasper.  Mrs.  Orr  served  until  the  meet- 
ing in  1896  at  Carthage,  the  twentieth  anniversary,  at  which  time  ihere 
were  greetings  from  Mrs.  Dunlap,  the  first  President;  Mrs.  Mille/  of  Indian 
Territory,  Mrs.  Knight  and  Mrs.  Likins.  Miss  Cowan  of  Carthage  spoke 
of  the  first  ten  years.     Mrs.  Moore  left  a  legacy  of  $200,  which  was  equally 


78  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

divided  between  Korea  and  the  Asheville  farm  school.  NT r.  Ward  of  Persia 
and  Mrs.  Devore  of  Alaska,  both  so  exceedingly  interesting,  were  at  this 
meeting.  In  thai  year  three  of  the  workers  had  been  called  home.  Mrs. 
Shields  was  elected  President.  West  Plains  was  organized  that  year  along 
all  lines  of  work,  and  in  1S!I7  the  meeting  was  held  there.  The  meeting 
was  saddened  by  the  number  of  deaths  which  had  occurred  during  the  year* 
Five  workers  had   been   called   away. 

In  1898  death  claimed  four  members — Mrs.  Day  and  Mrs.  Randall,  of 
Monett;  Mrs.  Ford  and  Mrs.  McMillan,  of  Carthage.  Miss  Codgall,  if  Japan, 
attended  this  meeting  at   Joplin. 

In  1899  it  was  reported  that  the  increase  in  gifts  to  freedmen  was, 
since  1894,  from  $1   to  $75;  $25  was  also  given   to  Miss  Mc Arthur's  outfit. 

Let  us  take  a  look  back  over  the  years  before  we  return  to  the  future 
and  sum  up  some  of  the  things  that   have  gone  into  history 

Here  are  some  of  the  statistics  of  our  history:  Fourteen  presidents 
have  presided  in  the  thirty  one  years  and  twenty-one  vice-presidents.  Until 
1892  one  secretary  did  all  the  work  where  now  there  are  several.  Up  to 
that  time  seven  secretaries  served.  Since  then  there  have  been  five  record- 
ing secretaries  and  six  foreign  secretaries.  Since  1901  there  have  been 
four  secretaries  of  literature  and  four  young  people's  secretaries.  The 
account  of  these  is  not  complete  before  that. 

Previous  to  1894  there  had  been  five  treasurers.  Since  then  until  1901 
there  were  four  home  treasurers  and  three  foreign  treasurers.  Since  that 
time  there  has  been  no  change  in  treasurers.  To  this  fact  is  due,  no  doubt, 
our  gain  in  financial  strength  and  systematic  working.  It  would  be  inter- 
esting to  know  the  entire  amount  of  gifts  in  the  thirty-one  years',  but  the* 
first  years  have  no  records  preserved  and  the  board  did  not  publish  an  an- 
nual report  until  its  seventh  year.  So  this  and  other  valuable  information 
is  lost  to  us.  We  were  permitted  to  rejoice  that  our  annual  gift  reached 
the  fifteen-hundred-dollar  mark  and  beyond  more  than  once. 

The  entire  roll  of  deaths,  so  far  as  known,  is  forty-four.  Few  societies, 
perhaps  none,  but  have  sent  records  of  deaths  among  the  members,  and 
almost  no  years  have  been  without  the  memorial  service 

There  is  one  thing  which  has  developed  in  the  later  years  of  our  work — 
the  mission  study  classes.  There  have  been  many  changes  and  advance- 
ment made  in  methods  and  ideas  of  mission  work  in  these  years.  But  the 
united  study  of  missions  is  no  doubt  destined  to  still  further  revolutionize 
our  knowledge  of  missions  and  methods.  Whatever  is  best  in  work  for  the 
Master,  and  will  help  us  do  the  work,  effectual  work  for  Him  is  what  we 
strive   for.     The  best  for  Christ  and  his  work. 

In  1901  was  celebrated  the  silver  anniversary,  the  silver  offering  being 
$103  that  year,  but  increased  during  the  year.  Greenfield,  the  birthplace 
of  Ozark  Presbyterial  Society,  was  the  place  of  meeting.  This  meeting 
was  one  which  will  always  be  associated  with  Mrs.  McFarland,  as  it  was 
such  a  joy  to  her.  The  meetings  of  following  years  were  at  Carthage, 
Springfield,  Ash  Grove  and  Joplin.  A  steady  gain  in  gifts  had  for  the 
most  part  characterized  the  reports.  At  the  Ash  Grove  meeting  for  the  first 
time  Mother  McFarland  was  not  with  us,  for  she  has  been  called  home. 
We  realize  our  great  loss,  but  how  true  of  her  in  this  work  that  "she  rests 
from   her   labors  and  her  works   do  follow  her." 

The  presence  of  Mrs.  McFarland  and  Miss  Amanda  Cowan,  of  Spring- 
field, had  always  been  very  helpful  in  our  meetings,  as  one  or  both  of  them 
seemed  a  necessity.  The  former  has  been  called  to  her  reward;  the  latter 
was  at  the  meeting  in  Joplin  last  year  and  gave  reminiscences  of  the  early 
days  of  the  society.  An  interesting  event  of  the  Springfield  meeting  was  the 
assuming  the  entire  salary  of  Miss  Barrett  of  Korea. 

These   items  form   a   record   of  great   work   accomplished    in    His   name. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  79 

and  many  of  these  names  are  impressed   in  special  ways  upon  our  work  in 
names  of  societies,  in  special  gifts,  in  increasing  labors  and  prayers. 

As  we  recount  the  years  we  cannot  but  feel  that  our  Father  has  led 
us  in  wonderful  ways,  and  we  do  thank  Him  for  having  allowed  us  to  have 
a  part  in  this  great  work.  They  have  been  years  of  honest  effort  and  often 
of  sacrifice.  We  have  believed,  seen  great  advance  in  interest  in  the  cause 
and  great  things  accomplished,  when  we  think  of  the  condition  of  this  part 
of  the  country  twenty-five  years  ago,  there  being  only  one  self-supporting 
church  in  the  Presbytery.  Truly  what  hath  God  wrought  ?  But  I  believe 
we  are  not  satisfied  that  we  have  done  all. 

And  now  we  pause  and  look  back  over  the  path  by  which  ws  ha*-e 
traveled  together  for  so  many  years.  Early  associations  are  alwavs  the 
strongest,  and  we  who  together  have  helped  to  lay  the  foundations  of  fcEIs 
organization  and  have  seen  its  growth  from  the  small  beginning  and  have 
helped  in  its  development,  cannot  but  be  closely  bound  together  in  soul. 
So  we  look  back  over  the  way  and  realize  that  in  the  future  our  paths 
must  diverge,  a  feeling  of  sadness  comes  over  us.  We  shall  not  be  sep- 
arated in  heart  or  in  interests,  even  though  in  different  Presbyterial  bodies, 
for  we   shall   still  be  bound   together   in   "Woman's   work  for  Woman." 


80  Presbyterianism  i\  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  V. 


EDUCATIONAL    INTERESTS. 

A  Missouri  statesman  (?)  declared:  ".Missouri  is  a  good 
place  in  which  to  be  born,  a  good  place  to  live,  and  if  a  man 
must  die  it  is  as  good  a  place  as  any  in  which  to  die."  The  first 
and  last  of  these  statements  are  applicable  to  Presbyterian  edu- 
cational institutions.  The  Presbyterians  of  Southwest  Missouri 
have  received  and  cherished  the  tradition  that  ours  is  "a  college 
building  rather  than  a  cathedral  building  church." 

"Seven  cities  claimed  to  be  the  birthplace  of  Homer  dead 
Through  which  the  living  Homer  begged  his  bread." 
At  least  as  many  would-be  cities  have  been  the  birthplace  of 
Presbyterian  educational  institutions,  but  as  they  failed  to  supply 
"bread"  in  sufficient  quantities  an  untimely  demise  was  the  in- 
evitable consequence.  The  pioneer  ministers  were  teachers  as 
well  as  pastors  and  evangelists,  and  a  church  of  any  pretensions 
had  a  school  as  an  annex.  With  the  progress  of  the  public  school 
began  the  decline  of  the  secular  teaching  of  the  church  save  here 
and  there,  where  more  pretentious  efforts  were  made. 

Before  the  Civil  War  the  North  Prairie  Institute  at  Cross 
Timbers,  in  Hickory  County,  gained  an  enviable  local  patronage 
and  reputation.  At  least  two  of  its  students  entered  the  Presby- 
terian ministry.  But  the  desolations  of  war  "left  not  one  stone 
upon  another."  Our  "fathers  and  brethren"  of  the  Presbyteries 
of  Southwest  Missouri  and  Osage  seriously  considered  the  project 
of  founding  an  educational  institution  to  commemorate  the  re- 
union of  '69  and  '70,  but  presumably  by  reason  of  the  urgent 
calls  for  evangelization  and  the  lack  of  material  resources  the 
project  was  abandoned. 

In  1869  the  Mount  Zion  Church  of  Cave  Spring  completed 
its  second  house  of  worship,  which  was  erected  for  school  as  well 
as  religious  purposes.  The  school  conducted  there  attracted 
young  people  as  far  west  as  Mount  Vernon.  The  Presbyterians 
of  Springfield  bent  their  energies  to  the  establishment  and  main- 
tenance of  Drury  College  (founded  in  1873),  and  so  hearty  was 
their  co-operation  that  the  impression  gained  credence  far  and 


CARTHAGE   COLLEGIATE   INSTITUTE 


PRESBYTERIAXISM    IX    THE    OzARKS  8l 

wide  that  Drury  was  under  joint  control  of  the  Congregational- 
ists  and  Presbyterians.  Under  this  impression  in  1882,  I  came 
very  near  leaving  my  country  home  in  Johnson  County  to  enter 
Drury,  but  the  founding  of  a  school  at  Sedalia  just  at  that  time 
led  me  to  matriculate  nearer  home;  and  although  later  years 
found  Drury  completely  in  the  Congregational  column,  within 
the  last  decade  generous  Presbyterians  of  the  East  have  responded 
to  the  appeals  for  endowment  on  the  representation  that  the 
school  educates  more  Presbyterians  than  Congregationalists. 

After  Calvary  Church  abandoned  its  hrst  house  of  worship 
it  was  converted  into  a  private  seminary  for  young  ladies.  This 
school  was  conducted  by  a  Presbyterian  lady  of  refinement  and 
culture,  and  was  strongly  religious  in  its  influences. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  two-story  structure 
of  the  church  at  Mount  Vernon.  Here  a  flourishing  academy  in 
the  late  eighties  and  the  early  nineties  gave  many  Lawrence 
County  young  people  a  taste  for  learning  that  sent  them  to  other 
schools  to  complete  their  education.  But  the  most  pretentious 
and  the  most  persistent  of  our  educational  enterprises  is  the 
school  founded  at  Carthage  under  the  benign  aegis  of  that  friend 
of  the  young— Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D. 

The  origin  and  purposes  of  this  school  are  set  forth  in  an 
address  delivered  by  Dr.  Knight  at  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone 
June  4th,  1887.     I  quote : 

' '  Carthage  Collegiate  Institute  has  sprung  into  existence  in  obedience 
to  a  necessity  long  felt  in  our  city  and  region.  We  have  had  facilities 
second  to  no  other  section  for  the  training  of  our  youth  by  means  of  our 
excellent  public  schools.  But  beyond  that  we  have  had  to  send  our  chil- 
dren away  to  other  higher  schools  of  learning  for  the  lack  of  one  of  our 
own.  I  was  told  a  year  or  so  ago  by  one  who  took  the  trouble  to  count 
that  at  least  fifty  young  ladies  and  men  were  annually  sent  out  of  Jasper 
County  to  pursue  their  course  of  education  elsewhere,  which  simply  means 
that  from  $20,000  to  $25,000  were  expended  in  other  communities  which 
might  have  been  retained  at  home.  Such  facts  as  these,  and  the  intelli- 
gence and  enterprise  of  our  city  and  region,  and  the  growing  demand  of 
our  favored  Southwest  have  been  pushing  to  the  surface  the  germ  that  must 
develope  into  the  institute  of  the  future.  *  *  *  The  Congregational 
Church  is  represented  in  Drury  College,  Springfield;  Baptist,  at  Pierce 
City  and  Bolivar,  Cumberland  Presbyterian  at  Greenfield,  M.  E.  Church  at 
Marionville  and  Nevada,  Christian  at  Ash  Grove,  Methodist  South  at 
Neosho.*  In  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  there  has  been  no 
literary  institution  in  a  territory  embracing  at  least  one-fourth  of  the  State 
of  Missouri.  This  has  led  to  the  conception  of  founding  an  institution  at 
Carthage  which  might  interfere  with  no  other  and  yet  draw  patronage  from 
a  wide  scope  of  country.  The  steps  that  have  been  taken  date  back  for  the 
last  three  or  four  years  in  obedience  to  a  necessary  law  that  a  living  thing 
that  deserves  to  live  must  be  a  thing  of  growth.  *  *  *  In  1883  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  G.  Reaser,   our  President-elect,  was  invited  to   come   down   from   St. 

*The  college  cemetery  is  not  monopolized  by  tombstones  over  the  re- 
mains of   Presbyterian   institutions. — Ed. 


82  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

Louis   and    the   first    public   meeting  was   held   on   December   17th. 
It  was  evident   that   in   the  view  of  many  the  time   had  come  when   such   a 
project   ought   to    be   inaugurated.     *  *     Not   until    the   autumn    of    1884 

was  there  any  organized  effort  undertaken.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  D.  Ganse,  of  Chi- 
cago, Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Aid  for  Colleges,  came  out  on 
request  in  December,  18K4,  and  it  was  then  decided  as  the  first  step  to  adopt 
articles  of  incorporation.  *  *  *  On  the  18th  of  May,  1885,  the  present 
site    was    chosen.     *  Just    a   year   ago    it   was    decided    to    open    the 

school  in  the  fall  in  the  building  that  was  to  be  erected  for  its  own  use  by 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  teachers  were  secured.  November  1st,  1886, 
action  was  taken  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  proceed  at  once  in  the  cir- 
culation of  a  subscription  for  the  purchase  of  grounds  and  the  erection  of 
a    building.     *      *     *     The    effort    was    eminently    sueessful.  The 

grounds  were  purchased,  costing  $3,100.  Plans  were  at  once  sought  to  com- 
bine both  convenience  and  architectural  beauty,  and  April  7,  1887,  the  pres- 
ent plan  was  adopted,  to  cost  in  round  numbers  $14,000.  We 
have  called  to  the  Presidency  a  man  widely  known,  of  large  experience,  and 
a  thoroughly  cultured  Christian  gentleman,  Rev.  Dr.  .1.  G.  Reaser,  of  West- 
minster College,  Fulton,  Mo.  *  *  I  may  say  that  the  board  realizes 
the  inevitable  struggle  that  must  enter  into  the  opening  years. 
What  has  been  achieved  is  befdre  you — how  wisely  you  can  judge  as  you 
stand  here  on  this  eminence  in  the  loveliest  part  of  our  city,  and  with  the 
magnificent  prospect  that  will  be  spread  out  to  the  vision  of  all  who  through 
coming  years  will,  as  we  confidentially  believe,  throng  this  building,  whose 
fair  proportions  will  soon  be  a  prominent  feature  and  ornament  of  the 
magnificent  scenery  that  spreads  around  it.  And  we  believe  that  the  beau- 
tiful and  healthful  surroundings  will  be  but  typical  of  the  pure  and 
healthful  influences  that  will  go  out  from  this  spot  in  refining  and  molding 
the  character  of  those  who  are  to  adorn  society  and  be  the  intelligent  and 
successful  actors  in  the  material  and  moral  interests  of  the  great  future 
before  us. ' ' 

When  prophecy  has  become  history  the  query  arises.  Did 
the  trustees  realize  the  struggles  that  were  before  them?  Through 
the  Presidencies  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Dwight  C. 
Hanna  and  Mr.  Salem  G.  Patterson  the  school  had  a  checquered 
career,  realizing  some  of  the  early  ideals  as  to  the  formation  of 
character  and  certainly  the  full  complement  of  the  expectations 
as  to  struggles.  On  Memory  Day,  a  score  of  years  after  its 
founding,  Miss  Gussie  Knight  said:  "Of  the  forty-seven  grad- 
uates "who  have  gone  out.  but  few  are  to  be  found  yet  lingering  in 
Carthage.  California  claims  several,  China  one,  Seattle  one. 
Mississippi  one,  and  others  scattered  throughout  Southwest  Mis- 
souri." 

For  a  few  years  the  school  was  run  as  a  private  institution 
and  then  at  the  dawn  of  this  century  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D.. 
was  called  from  a  St.  Louis  church  to  tbe  Presidency  and  gave 
to  the  arduous  duties  of  that  office  the  six  closing  years  of  his 
life.  After  his  deatb  in  November,  1905.  Mrs.  Knight  carried  on 
the  school  for  the  rest  of  the  school  year,  whereupon  the  mantle 
of  the  father  fell  upon  the  son,  1).  M.  Knight,  in  whose  hands  we 
leave  the  institution.     After  the  death  of  Dr.  Knight.  Dr.  Shep- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  83 

herd,  of  Webb  City,  "kindly  and  acceptably  took  charge  of  the 
classes  in  Bible  study."  and  both  teachers  and  scholars,  as  well 
as  the  members  of  his  own  family,  seemed  to  be  imbued  with  the 
idea  that  an  added  incentive  was  given  to  make  this  school  a 
success  and  in  some  measure  a  worthy  memorial  of  that  life  of 
"sweetness  and  light"  whose  brain  conceived  and  wmose  unre- 
quited toils  rescued  the  institution. 

The  historian  treads  on  dangerous  ground  when  he  begins 
to  prophesy.  Nevertheless  I  venture  a  suggestion.  Over  the 
threshold  of  Carthage  Collegiate  Institute  must  be  written  am- 
plius,  or  else  it  can  remain  worthy  of  its  traditions  and  birth 
throes  only  by  a  changed  career.  The  very  excellence  of  the 
Carthage  public  schools  is  a  barrier  to  the  welfare  of  any  save  an 
institution  that  does  work  appreciably  beyond.  For  this  larger 
work  larger  resources  are  imperative.  I  have  suggested  an  alter- 
native. As  our  churches  are  now  taking  hold  of  various  plans 
for  the  Christian  care  and  nurture  of  students  at  the  State  uni- 
versities, it  may  be  more  than  an  iridescent  dream  that  the  time 
will  come  when  county  seats  will  have  dormitory  homes  under 
church  auspices  for  the  Christian  nurture  of  the  stalwart  sons  of 
the  soil  that  come  to  the  high  school  prom  the  country  to  gci 
glimpse  of  the  wrorld  of  letters. 

(Since  this  chapter  was  written  the  school  has  again  closed 
its  doors.) 


84  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  VI. 


SOME  PRESBYTERIAL  STATISTICS. 


Statistics  are  ordinarily  accounted  dry  and  uninteresting. 
That  depends  largely  upon  the  way  they  are  read  and  the  pur- 
pose they  are  intended  to  subserve.  There  is  no  more  reason  for 
reading  this  chapter  consecutively  than  there  is  for  a  consecutive 
reading  of  a  dictionary.  But  the  dictionary  when  consulted  on 
appropriate  occasions  is  invaluable.  There  are  times  when  friends 
or  loved  ones  of  a  given  minister,  will  cherish  the  information 
here  given  as  to  his  labors  and  positions  of  trust  in  the  Presby- 
tery. And  distant  scenes  may  reverberate  with  eloquent  appeals 
for  Home  Missions  and  other  benevolences  based  on  the  text 
"Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give."  The  historians  of  local 
churches  will  find  materials  for  their  sketches  already  gathered 
from  sources  not  now  easily  accessible;  and  the  statistician  who 
loves  statistics  just  because  he  is  built  that  way  will  peruse  these 
pages  with  avidity — and  doubtless  consider  this  the  most  interest- 
ing chapter  in  the  book!  It  is  largely  on  his  account  that  this 
chapter  is  inserted.  And  if  it  is  any  satisfaction  to  him  lie  may 
ponder  the  facts  that  for  his  delectation  the  writer  lias  expended 
an  immense  amount  of  toil  and  the  printer  has  doubled  up  on 
the  price  per  page!  The  average  reader  may  turn  over  these 
leaves  hastily  until  he  comes  again  to  reading  matter. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


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Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  97 


CHURCHES  OR  MINISTERS  RECOMMENDED  FOR  HOME 
MISSION  AID 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Calvary,   Nov.   24,    1866 $  500 

John  MeFarland  (as  Mis.  evangelist)   Nov.  24,  1866,  for  six  months....     150 

Rev.  W.  C.  Holliday,  "or  other  fit  man  for  Presbyterial  evangelist" 

April   19,   1867;   for  3   months '. 150 

Rev.  John  MeFarland,   April   19,   1867;   for   six  months 150 

Rev.  John   MeFarland,   Sept.   13,   1867;   per   annum 300 

Deepwater Amount  not  given 

Carthage.  April   3,  1868 400 

Neosho. 

Ebenezer,    April    3,    1868 250 

Mt.  Vernon   (Ozark  Prairie). 

Calvary,    April    3,    1868 300 

Carthage,   Sept.   5,   1868 400 

Calvary,    March    27,    1869 200 

Ebenezer,    March    27,    1869 250 

Mt.  Vernon  (Ozark  Presby.) 

Deepwater,   March   27,    1869 300 

Little  Osage. 

Rev.  John  MeFarland,  Aug.  20,  1869 200 

(Missionary  at  large.) 

Ebenezer,    August    21,    1869 , 250 

Mt.  Vernon  (O.  P.) 

Carthage,    Aug.    21,    1869 300 

Neosho  (?) 

Dedpwater,   April    16,   1870 : 300 

Little  Osage. 

Ebenezer,  Oct.   1,  1870 400 

Carthage    (reported-   April   1,   1871 300 

Ebenezer   (reported-  April  1,  1871 300 

Noesho   (reported)    April   1,   1871 550 

Rev.  John  MeFarland,  April  1,  1871 200 

Ozark   Prairie,   reported   Oct.  6,   1871    (not   used) 400 

Logan. 

Pierce   City,   reported   Oct.   6,   1871    (not   used) 600 

Verona. 


98  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Newtonia  and  Ritchey,  April  12,  1872 .''.00 

Locusl  <irove. 
Preston. 

Licking,   April   18.   1872 400 

Peace   Valley. 
St.  Annie. 
Mountain  Grove. 

Ozark   Prairie.   April    13,   1872 400 

Verona. 
Avilla 

Carthage,  Oct.   11,  1873   (conditional) 500 

Salem,    Oct.    11,    1873 500 

Shiloh. 

Ozark  Prairie. 

Neosho,    Oct.    11,    1873 500 

Locust  Grove. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Brown   (missionary)  Oct.  11,  1873 1000 

Carthage,   April   24,   1874 400 

Rev.   E.   M.   Halbert,  Sept.   26,   1874 3.00 

Rev.  J.  B.   Vawter,  Sept.   26,   1874 300 

Rev.  W.   L.   Miller,   Sept.   26,   1874 350 

Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  Sept.  26,  1874 300 

Joplin,  April  10,  1875 2 300 

Preston. 
Westminster. 

Carthage,    April    10,    1875 400 

Neosho,    Sept.    9,    1875 300 

Grace,   Sept.  9,   1875 325 

Ozark  Prairie. 

Salem. 

Shiloh. 

Carthage,  March   10,   1876 400 

Neosho,  March  10,  1876 200 

Joplin,   March    10,   1876 350 

Ebenezer,   March    10,    1876., 275 

Bethany. 
Pleasant  Valley. 

Rev.   J.   B.   Vawter,   March   10,  1876 100 

Rev.  L.  J.  Matthews,  Sept.   29,  1876 300 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  99 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Salem,    Sept.    30,    1876 400 

Preston. 

Grace. 

Home. 

Bellview,   Sept.   30,   1876 200 

Mount  Bethel. 

Ebenezer,    Sept.    30,    1876 Amount    not    given 

Mount  Bethel. 
Pleasant  Valley. 

Ozark  Prairie,   Sept.   30,    1876 200 

Ash  Grove,  Sept.  30,  1876 Amount   not   given 

Carthage,  March  31,  1877 400 

Granby,   March   31,   1877 200> 

Neosho. 
Westminster. 

Waldensian,  Sept.  21,  1877 Amount  not  given 

Joplin,  Sept.  '21,  1877 Amount  not  given 

Webb  City. 

Ozark  Prairie,  Sept.   21,  1877 Amount   not   given 

Shiloh. 
White  Oak. 

Ebenezer,  Sept.  21,  1877 Amount  not   given 

Bethel. 
Pleasant  Valley. 

Grace,  Sept.  21,  1877 Amount  not  given 

Center. 

Preston. 

Salem. 

Summit,    March    15,    1878 250" 

Cherry  Grove — not  organized. 

Trinity,  March  15,  1878 Amount  not  given 

Webb  Citj,  March  15,   1878 Amount  not   given 

Carthage,  March  15,  1878 300 

Summit,    March    15,    1878 *400 

Buffalo,  March  16,  1878 Amount  not  given 

Conway. 

Carthage,  April   30,   1878— (See   above,   March   16.) 

Shiloh,  Sept.   7,   1878 Amount   not   given 

Grace. 

Mt.  Moriah. 

Center. 

*Same  date  as  above  when  $250  is  given. 


ioo  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Jnplin,  Sept.    7,    1878 Amount   not   given 

Webb  City. 

Ozark  Prairie  &  Points  in  Lawrence  county,  Sept.  7,  1878. ...Amount  not  given 
(Renewed  Oct.  18.) 

Conway,    Sept.    7,    1878 100 

Buffalo,  Sept.  7,  1878 100 

Salem,  Sept,  7,  1878 •. Amount  not  given 

Trinity. 
Preston. 

Waldensian,  Oct.  19,  1878 300 

Hemitage,   April    2,    1879 Amount    not    given 

Buffalo. 
Conway. 

Trinity,  April  2,  1879 Amount  not  given 

Salem. 
Skiloh. 
Pleasant  Valley. 

Ebenezer,   April   2,   1879 Amount   not   given 

Ozark  Prairie. 

Bethel,  April   2,   1879 Amount  not  given 

Bellview. 
Summit. 

Carthage,  April  2,  1879 : Amount  not  given 

Ebenezer,  Oct.  8,  1879 200 

Ozark  Prairie,   Oct.   8,   1879 200 

Pleasant  Valley,   Oct.   8,   1879 45 

Shiloh,   Oct.   8,   1879 85 

Salem,  Oct.  8,  1879 85 

Trinity,    Oct.   8,   1879 85 

Summit,  Oct.   9,   1879 125 

Waldensian,   Oct,    9,    1879 300 

Mt.  Bethel,  Oct.  9,  1879 100 

Grand  Prairie,  Oct.  9,  1879 100 

Bellview,  Oct.  9,  1879 100 

Grace,  Oct.  9,  1879 100 

Preston,   Oct.   9,   1879 ." 80 

Mt.  Moriah,  Oct.  9,  1879 120 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  ioi 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Joplin,   Feb.   4,   1880 300 

Neosho,    April    14,   1880 300 

Granby. 
Westminster. 

Mt.   Moriah,   Preston,   Grace— Oct.    7,   1880 $100  each 

Salem,  Shiloh ,—  Oct.  7,  1880 $100  each 

Ozark  Prairie,  Ebenezer— Oct.   7,  1880 $200  each 

Pleasant  Valley,  Oct.  7,  1880 60 

Trinity,   Oct.    7,    1880 45 

Waldensian,    Oct.    7,    1880 250 

White   Oak,    Oct.    7,    1880 50 

Eev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.— Mar.  12,  1881 600 

(Pres.  Evangelist.) 

Salem,   Shiloh— Sept.   28,   1881 $125   each 

Ozark   Prairie,   Sept.   28,   1881 . 200 

Joplin,    Sept.    29,    1881 $500  (Conditional) 

Eev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  April  12,  1881 500 

Granby,   April   13,   1882 250 

Webb  City,  April  13,   1882 100 

Mt.    Zion,    April    13,    1882 150 

Ash  Grove. 

Trinity,   April   27,    1882 45 

Ash   Grove,   Sept.   27,   1882 175 

Mt.  Zion. 
Bolivar. 

Eureka   Springs,   Sept.    27,    1882 700 

Preston,   Sept.   27,   1882 ". 150 

Madison., 
Grace. 

Bellview,  Sept.  27,  1882 $300    (already  received) 

Grand  Prairie. 
Mount  Betlel. 
Conway. 

Conway,   Sept.   27,   1882 $350    from    date 

Buffalo. 
Grand  Prairie. 

Joplin,   April    11,    1883 400 

Eev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  April  11,  1883 700 


102  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

name  amount 

Ash  Grove,  April   li>.  L883  Amount   do!   given 

Cave  Springs,  i.  e.,  Mt.  Zion. 

Neosho,   April   12,   1883 Amount    not    given 

Granby. 

West  minster. 

Mountain   Grove,    April    12,   1883 \niount    nut    given 

Cabool. 
White  Bock. 
West  Plains. 

Webb    City,    April    12,    1883 Amount    not    given 

Carl  Junction. 
Trinity. 

North   Prairie,   April   12,   1883 Amount    not    given 

Wheatland. 
Humansville. 

Eureka    Springs,    April    12,    1883 700 

Joplin,   May  8,   1883 400 

West  Plains,   Sept.   20,   1883 150 

Mountain  Grove. 
White  Bock. 

White  Oak,   Sept.  20,  1883 100 

Salem,  Sept.   20,   1883 300 

Shiloh. 

Eureka  Springs,  April  3,  1884 500 

Eev.  J.  J.  Marks,  April   3,   1884 500 

Waldensian,   April   3,    1884 300 

Joplin,  May   18,   1884 300 

Eellview,   June    1,    1884 400 

Springfield  Chapel. 

Neosho,  Oct.  1,  1884 400 

Westminster. 

Bolivar,   April   30,   1885 350 

Mt.  Zion. 

Eureka   Springs,    April   30,   1885 .".nit 

Irwin,   April  30,   1885 50 

Neosho,  Sept,  17,  1885 Amount  not   given 

Westminster. 

Joplin,     Sept,     17,     1885 400 

Jasper,   Sept.    17,    1885 300 

Preston. 
Home. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  103 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Golden   City,  Sept.   17,   1885 200 

Shiloh. 
Grace. 
Madison. 

Eureka   Springs,    Sept.    17,    1885 250 

Eureka    Springs,    April    17,    1886 500 

Other  appropriations  for  1886  not  given,  but  the  fall  report  says:  "Dur- 
ing the  last  ecclesiastical  year  the  Presbytery  has  received  from 
the  Board  $2,350.50." 

Eureka   Springs,   April    7,   1887 — (probably   not    used) 500 

Joplin,    Sept.    15,    1887 400 

Ebenezer,   Sept.   15,   1887 Amount    not    given 

Eureka   Springs,   Dec.   20,   1887 400 

Bolivar,   April   12,   1888 400 

Mt.  Zion. 
Grand  Prairiew 

Salem,    April    12,    1888 40 

Preston. 

Home. 

Trinity. 

Joplin,  Sept,  27,  1888 Amount  not  given 

($300  granted  Nov.  1,  1888.) 

W.   E.   McElroy,    Sept.    27,   1888 50 

Eureka  Springs,  Sept,   27,  1888 400 

West  Plains,  Sept.   27,   1888 400 

Neosho,    Sept.    27,    1888 300 

Buffalo,    Oct,    1,    1888 300 

Stockton. 

Golden    City,    Nov.    1,    1888 150 

Shiloh. 

West  Plains,  Feb.  1,  1889 350 

Bolivar,   April    11,   1889 - 300 

Mt.   Zion. 
Grand  Prairie. 

Salem,    Sept.    11,    1889 350 

Preston. 
Trinity. 
Irwin. 

Springfield   Second,   Sept.   11,  1889 400 

Monett,    Sept.    11,    1889 300 

Madison. 


104  Presbyteriams.m  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Golden  City,  April    17,   L890 300 

Shiloh. 

Wes1    Plains,  April   17,  1890 300 

Mammoth  Springs. 

Buffalo,    April    17,    1890 400 

Conway. 

Bolivar,   April    17,    1890 .500 

Mt.  Zion. 
Grand  Prairie. 

Eureka   Springs,   April    17.    1890 300 

Salem,    Sept,    10,    1890 125 

Preston. 

Eureka   Springs,   April    16,   1891 350 

Lockwood,   April   16,   1891 .,. 300 

White  Oak. 

Jasper,    April    16,    1891 150 

Preston. 

Joplin,  April  16,  1891 _..Aid  for  a  Missionary  referred  to  Committee 

Eev.  G.  H.  .Williamson,  Evangelist,   April  16,   1891 

Aid  to  come  from   Churches  of  the  Pres. 

Springfield   Second,   July   14,   1891 200 

Golden  City,  Sept.   17,   1891 300 

Shiloh. 
Madison. 

Bolivar,    Sept.   17,    1891 280 

Golden  City,  April   13,  1892 300 

Lockwood. 
White  Oak. 

Fair  Play,  April   13,   1892 150* 

Irwin,    April    13,    1892 350 

Preston. 
Salem. 

Eev.   S.   Glascock,   reported   Sept.   14,    1892 350 

West  Plains,  reported  Sept.  14,  1892 300 

Springfield   Second,   reported   Sept,    14,    1892 Amount    not   given 

Springfield  Second,   April  14,  1893 \  300 

Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson   (Evangelist)   April   14,  1893 400 

Waldensian,   April    14,    1893 250 

South   Joplin,  Oct.   18,   1893 400 

Lone  Elm. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  105 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Waldensian,    April    11,    1894 200 

Salem,    April    11,    1894 250 

Irwin. 
Preston. 

South  Joplin,   April    11,   1894 300 

Lehigh. 

South    Joplin,    Dec.    27,     1894 300 

Madison. 

White   Oak,   April    18,   1895 Amount    not    given 

Golden  City. 

Grace. 

Shiloh. 

Lehigh  and   Group,  April   18,   1895 200 

Conway,   Sept.   17,   1895 200 

Buffalo. 

Monett,   Sept.    17,    1895 250 

Irwin,   Sept.    17,    1895 350 

Preston. 
Salem. 

Waldensian,    Oct,    16,    1895 240 

Eev.  J.  0.  Sefton  (P.  at  Large)  Oct.  16,  1895 500 

Springfield  Second,  April  26,   1896 200 

Eureka   Springs,   April   26,    1896 '. 200 

Eev.  J.  G.  Knotter,  Sept.  17,  1896 200 

Buffalo,  Sept.   17,  1896 200 

Conway. 

Salem,    Sept.    17,    1896 ! 300 

Irwin. 
Preston. 

Eev.  J.   C.   Sefton,    (P.   at   Large)    Sept,   17,  1896 500 

Eureka   Springs,    April    21,    1897 400 

Springfield    Second,    April    21,     1897 200 

Ashbury,    April    21,    1897 200 

Lehigh. 

Monett,    April    21,    1897 250 

Salem,    April    21,    1897 250 

Irwin. 
Preston. 


106  Prksbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  A.MOUNT 

Ash    Grove,    April    31,    1897 300 

Mt.  Zion. 
Grand  Prairie. 

Bolivar,   April   21,    1S97 200 

Fair  Play. 

Conway,    April    21,    1S97 -^" 

Buffalo. 

Fordland,    April     21,     1S97 300 

Burnham. 

Waldensian,    April    21,    1897 200 

Mammoth    Springs    ami    vicinity,    April    <>,    1898 700 

Ash   Grove,   April   6,   1898 200 

Fordland. 

Eureka  Springs,  April  6,  1898 300 

Bolivar,    April    6,    1898 175 

Fair  Play. 

Conway,    April    6,    1898 300 

Buffalo. 

Lehigh,    April    6,    1898 300 

Asbury. 
Madison. 

Monett,    April   6,   1898 125 

Salem,    April    6,    1898 250 

Irwin. 

Springfield   Second,    April    6,    1898 275 

Waldensian,    April    ti,    1898 200 

Ash   Grove,   *Sept.   22,   1898 150 

Fordland. 

Asbury,   Sept.    22,    1898 200 

Lehigh. 

Eureka    Springs,   Sept.    22,    1898 300 

Monett,    Sept.    22.    1898 100 

Springfield  Second,   Sept.  22,  1898 27.", 

Waldensian,    Sept.    22,    1898 200 

*Appropriations  of  this  date  are  in  part  duplicates  of  April  6*. 

Bolivar,  Sept.  2,  1898 175 

Fair  Play. 

Buffalo,    Sept.    2,    1908 300 

Conway. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  107 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Grace,    Sept.    2,    1898 175 

Madison. 

Irwin,    Sept.    2,    1898 250 

Preston. 
Salem. 

Grand    Prairie,    Sept.    2,    1898 125 

Mt,   Zion,   Sept.   2,   1898 100 

White   Oak,  Sept.  2,   1898 50 

Mt.    Vernon,   Sept.    2,    1898 100 

Ozark   Prairie,   Sept.   2,   1898 50 

■West   Plains,  Sept.   2,  1898 200 

Work   in   Arkansas,  Sept.  2,   1898 100 

Salem,    April    5,    1899 700 

Irwin,    April    5,    1899 75 

Preston,    April    5,    1899 50 

West    Plains,   April    5,    1899 200 

Conway,    April    5,    1899 300 

Buffalo. 

Waldensian,    April    5,    1899 200 

Springfield   Second,    April   5,    1899 275 

Grand  Prairie,  Sept.  20,  1899 79.69 

Mt.   Zion,   Sept.   20,    1899 68.75- 

Grace,    Sept.    20,    1899 75 

Work   in   Arkansas    (additional) 80 

April  14,  1900.     Applications   (not  itemized)   were  endorsed  to  the 
amount  of  $2500. 

Grand  Prairie,   April    11,    1901 100 

Mt.  Zion,  April  11,   1901 75 

Evans,    April    11,    1901 50 

Salem,    April    11,    1901 50 

Preston,   April    11,    1901 65 

Grace,  April  11,  1901 60 

Bolivar,   April   11,   1901 100 

Fair  Play,   April   11,   1901 40 

West   Plains,   April    11,    1901 100 


108  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Lehigh,    April    11,    1901 200 

Joflesboro,  April   11,  1901 100 

Irwin,  April   11,   1901 50 

Waldensian,    April    11,    1901 50 

Eureka    Springs,    April    11,    1901 75 

Mena,  April   11,   1901 440 

Mammoth    Spring,    April    11,    1901 570 

Fordland,   April    11,    1901 75 

Buffalo,    April    11,   1901 75 

Madison,   April    11,    1901 75 

Seneca,  April   11,   1901 50 

Evans,   April   6,    1902 75 

Grand   Prairie,    April    6,    1902 100 

Mt.   Zion,  April  6,  1902 17." 

Conway,  April   6,  1902 50 

Buffalo,    April   6,    1902 100 

Salem,    April    6,    1902 50 

Preston,    April    6,    1902 65 

Grace,    April    6,    1902 60 

Bolivar,   April   6,   1902 100 

Fair  Play,  April  6,  1902 40 

Lehigh,  April  6,  1902 150 

Irwin,  April   6,   1902 50 

Jonesboro,    April    6,    1902 200 

Kidge  Station. 

Ash    Grove,    April    6,    1902 145 

Fordland. 

Seneca,    April    6,    1902 50 

White  Oak,  April   6,  1902 50 

Lockwood,  April  6,  1902 50 

Mena,  April   6,   1902 440 

Mammoth    Springs,    April    6,    1902 550 

Mt.  Olivet. 
Burnham. 


Presbyterianjsm  in  the  Ozarks  109 

NAME  AMOUNT 

West    Plains,    April    6,    1902 100 

Ravenden   Springs  and   stations,   Sept.   17,   1902 Unused   appropriations 

W'illard,  April   16,   1903 100 

Mt.   Zion,    April    16,    1903 .' 100 

Ash  Grove. 

Conway,    April    6,    1903 90 

Buffalo,   April   6,    1903 100 

Evans,   April    6,    1903 100 

Mammoth   Springs,   April   6,   1903 400 

Mt.  Olivet. 

Sedgwick. 

Fordland. 

Lockwood,    April    6,    1903 50 

.White   Oak,    April    6,    1903 50 

Grace,    April    6,    1903 50 

Lehigh   and    Stations,    April    6,    1903 130 

Irwin,    April    6,    1903 50 

Stockton,  April   6,   1903 , 150 

West  Plains,  April  16,  1903 100 

Burnham,    April    16,    1903 75 

Seneca   and   stations,   April  16,   1903 200 

Salem,    April    16,    1903 50 

Preston,   April   16,   1903 '. 65 

Madison,   April   16,    1903 50 

Jonesboro,   April   16,   1903 200 

Bethany,   April    16,   1903 200 

Fayetteville   and   vicinity,   April   16,    1903 100 

Conway,  April   19,  1904 90 

Buffalo,   April    19,    1904 100 

Evans,   April   19,    1904 100 

Bolivar,   April   19,   1904 75 

Fair  Play,  April   19,  1904 40 

Mammoth   Springe,   April   19,   1904 ., 350 


no  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

NAME  AMOUNT 

Madison,.  April    19,    L904    29/1 

Preston. 

Salem. 

Lehigh. 

Willard,    April   L9,  1904 100 

White   Oak, April    19,    1904 50 

Grace,    April    19,    1904 50 

Mt.   Zion,   April    19,    1904 '. 50 

West  Plains,  April   19,  1904 75 

Burnham,   April    19,   1904 75 

Seneca.    April    19,   1904 75 

Jonesboro,  April  19,  1904 175 

Bethany,    April     19,     1904 175 

Fayetteville,  Harris  and   vicinity,   April    19,   1904 100 

Harrison  and  vicinity,  April    19,   1904 450 

Bev.  W.  L.  Hackett  (Pastor  at  large)   (not  all  from  board) 1000 

Willard,    April    20,    1905 100 

Mt,    Zion,    April    20,    1905 50 

Madison,    April    20,    1905 50 

Evans,    April    20,    1905 100 

(Supply  Pastpr  at  Large). 

Conway,    April    20,    1905 150 

Buffalo,   April    20,    1905 175 

Bolivar,    April    20,    1905 75 

Fair  Play,  April   20,   1905 50 

Mammoth  Springs  and    vicinity,   April   20,   1905 375 

Preston,   April   20,   1905 100 

Salem,  April  20,  1905 100 

Grace,    April    20,    1905 100 

White  Oak,  April   20,   1905 100 

Irwin,   April    20,    1905 50 

Burnham,    April    20,    1909 75 

Bethany,   April    20,    1909 250 

Pastor  at  Large    (sec  above) 1000 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  III 

Conway,  April   19,   1906 150 

Buffalo,    April    19,    1906 150 

Fordland,    April    19,    1906 75 

Mt.   Olivet,  April   19,   1906 100 

Bethel,    April    19,   1906 100 

Ravenden   Springs,    April    19,   1906 175 

Crane,  April   19,  1906 200 

Irwin,   April    19,   1906 75 

White  Oak,   April   19,   1906 100 

Alba,    April    19,    1906 100 

Madison,   April    19,    1906 50 

Preston,   April    19,   1906 100 

Salem,    April    19,    1906...! 100 

Grace,  April  19,  .1906 150 

Willard,   April   19,   1906 100 

Mt.  Zion,  April  19  ,1906 ^ 100 

Fair  Play,  April   19,  1906 75 

Evans,   April    19,    1906 100 

Bohemian  Work,  Sept.  12,  1906  (unused.) 
Extracts  from  Report   of  1907. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  REPORT  OF  1907 


In  view  of  the  fact  that  Synod's  committee  on  Presbyterial 
Readjustments  incident  to  the  union  had  appointed  Rev.  E.  E. 
Stringfield,  Ph.  D.,  temporary  chairman  of  Home  Missions  for 
the  eastern  section  of  the  Presbytery,  and  Rev.  John  F.  Shep- 
herd, Ph.  D.,  for  the  western  section,  the  report  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion committee  was  presented  in  two  sections  by  the  respective 
chairmen.  The  reports  were  received,  and  the  Clerk  cast  the 
ballot  of  Presbytery  for  the  several  recommendations :  For  East- 
ern Section  (showing  appropriations  made  for  former  Cumber- 
land Churches  as  well  as  our  own)  : 


I  12 


PRESBYTERIANISM    IN'    THE   OZARKS 


Groups 


Aid   recommended — 
Cumb.  Pres. 


Fordland  

Mountain  Grove$150 
Cabool   50 

Burnham  

Pomona   150 

Willow    Springs.  250 

Mountain  View..  100 
Hickory  Grove...  50 
Liberty  50 

Pleasant  Divide.  75 
New  Providence  75 
Walnut    Spring...     75 

Walnut   Grove 100 

Bellview 

Buffalo    

Evans   


$  7--, 


$150 


Groups 


Crane 


Aid   recommended — 
Cumb.  Pres. 

250 


I    Marionville    

I   Brookline    100 

Bolivar   

Fair  Play  


Conway   

Mt.  Zion  

Willard    

Stockton    

Mt.    Carmel 50 

Stockton    A 100 


50 
75 

100 

100 

50 

50 


100 
100 

100 


[  Everton 

|  Dadeville 

1  Ray   Spring 

[  Spring  River 


S.  Greenfield ] 

,  Spring  Creek M50 

Oak  Grove J 

Rondo  '..     75 


50 


Mammoth    Sp'gs  100 

Mt.    Olivet 

Bethel  


100 
100 


That  Rev.  W.  C.  Hicks  be  commissioned  as  Presbyterial  Evan 
gelist  at  a  salary  of  $1,200  and  traveling  expenses,  it  being  under- 
stood that  all  funds  collected  by  him  for  services  rendered  shall 
be  turned  over  to  the  Home  Board;  and  it  is  guaranteed  by  the 
Springfield  ministers  that  these  funds  will  equal  $400  for  the 
year. 

For  the  Western  Section: 

(1)  That  Carterville  be  constituted  a  station  with  Rev.  O.  C. 
Cude  as  supply.  (2)  North  Heights,  Joplin,  Rev.  Samuel  Wiley, 
supply.  (3)  Grace  and  Salem.  Rev.  J.  S.  Stapleton.  supply.  (4) 
That  Madison  and  Preston  be  grouped  with  (Red  Oak)  and 
(Bowers  Mill),  Rev.  T.  S.  Brown,  supply.  (5)  Irwin,  (Hopewell), 
(Ianthe),  Rev.  A.  E.  Faust,  supply.  (6)  That  Waldensian  Church 
be  made  a  mission  station.  (7)  That  Seneca  and  White  Oak,  or 
(Pierce  City),  be  made  a  charge  to  be  supplied. 

Appropriations :  To  Carterville,  $500  ;  North  Heights.  $500  ; 
Grace,  $125;  Salem,  $100;  Madison.  $75;  Preston.  $75:  Irwin 
group,   $125;   Waldensian,    $100;   Seneca,    $100:    White   Oak   or 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  113 

(Pierce  City),  $100;  Bethany.  $150.     Hoberg  to  be  supplied  by 
J.  L.  McCauley." 


CHAIRMEN    OF    PERMANENT    COMMITTEES    REPRESENTING    THE 
BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 
HOME   MISSIONS 
Date  of  Appointment. 

October   1,   1870 Rev.  J.   M.  Brown 

September   26,   1874 Rev.   W.   R.  Fulton 

September   9,    1875 Rev.   C.   H.   Dunlap 

April  13,  1880 Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D. 

September   20,  1883 Rev.    D.   P.   Putnam,   D.   J> 

September  26,  1888 Rev.   T.  H.   Clelancl,  D.   D. 

September  19,  1894 Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.  D. 

September  22,  1897 Rev.  Asa  Leard,  D.  D. 

September   19,   1900 Rev.   W.   C.   Templeton,   Ph.   D. 

January    16,    1902 Rev.    E.   E.    Stringfield,   Ph.   D.- 
September 15,   1904 Rev.   Henry  Little 

January,   1907.      Special   chairmen   for   the   Provisional   Work   until   the 
consolidation: 

Eastern  Section Rev.  E.   E.   Stringfield,  Ph.   D. 

Western  Section Rev.  J.  F.  Shepherd,  Ph.  D. 

PUBLICATION   AND   S.   S.   WORK. 

March   31,    1870 Rev.   J.   A.   Paige 

October   6,   1871 Rev.   L.   J.    Matthews 

September   13,   1872 Rev.   E.   M.   Halbert 

September   9,   1875 Rev.   W.   L.   Miller 

March  30,  1870 Pub.,  Rev.  T.  H.  Allin;  S.   S.  Work,  Rev.  E.  M.  Halbert 

September  7,  1878  Pub.  Rev.  W.  L.  Miller.,  S.  S.,  Rev.  E.  M.  Halbert 

April  3,  1879   (Pub.) Rev.  T.  H.  Allin 

October  6,  1880   (Pub.  S.   S.) ." Rev.  G.  F.   Davis,   Rev.  Clark   Salmon 

September   27,   1882 United  again— Rev.   G.   F.   Davis 

April   14,   1891 Rev.   J.   R.   Gass 

September  21,   1899 .' Rev.   E.  J.   Nugent 

April  16,  1903 Rev.   A.   T.  Aller 

September  15,   1904 Rev.  E.   E.   Mathes 

September   13,   1905 Rev.  J.   F.  .Shepherd,  Ph.   D. 

EDUCATION 

October   1,   1870 Rev.   J.   A.   Paige 

October    6,    1871 Rev.    J.    M.    Brown 

September    13,    1872 Rev.    C.    H.    Dunlap 

April  14,   1880 Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D. 

April  12,  1882 Rev.  D.  P.  Putnam,  D.  D. 

September  20,  1883 Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D. 

September    17,    1885 Rev.    E.    A.    Hamilton 

April    14,    1891 Rev.    J.    A.    Gerhard 

September    16,    1896 Rev.  J.    B.   Welty 

September   22,    1897 Rev.   C.   Memmott 

September   22,   1898 Rev  W.  C.   Templeton 

September  19,   1900 Rev.   C.   B.   Boving 

-May  17,  1905 Rev.  B.  M.  Shive,  D.  D. 


114  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

GHUECH    EBECTION 

October  1,  1870 Rev.  John   McFarland 

April   12,   1872 Rev.    W.    L.    Miller 

September   7,   1878 Rev.   D.   L.   Lander 

October   8,    1879 Rev.   B.    F.   Powelson 

September  27,  1882 Rev.   D.  P.   Putnam,  D.  D. 

September  20,   1883 Rev.   A.   L.   Miller 

September   17,   1885 Rev.    T.   R.    Easterday 

September  26,   1889 Rev.    R.   W.    Ely 

April    14,   1891 Rev.    J.    G.    Reaser 

September  19,  1894 Rev.  D.   N.   Allen 

September  22,   1897 - Rev.   .1.    B.    Welty 

September  22,  1898 Rev.    W.    B.    McElroy 

April   10,   1901 Rev.    Henry    Little 

September   15,   1904 Rev.   E.   L.    Renick 

MINISTEBIAL  RELIEF 

April   1,    1871 Rev.   J.    H.    Nixon,    D.    D. 

October  6,  1871 Rev.  J.   W.   Pinkerton 

September  14,  1872 Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton 

March   12,   1881 Rev.   Geo.    Newell 

September  27,   1882 Rev.  W.   S.   Knight,   D.  D. 

September  20,  1883 Rev.    W.   L.   Miller 

September  17,   1885 Rev.   W.   S.   Knight.   D.    1). 

September  14,  1887 Rev.   H.  B.   Frv,  D.  D. 

September  26,   1889 Rev.   J.    E.   Leyda 

September   19,   1894 Rev.   J.    N.   McClung 

September   17,    1896 Rev.    ( '.    Memmott 

September   22,    1897 Elder   .1.    W.    silshv 

September   12,   1906 Elder   W.    B.   Skinner 

FOREIGN   MISSIONS 

September  9,  1875 Rev.  W.  S.  Knight.  D.  D. 

October   8,   1879 Rev.    B.    F.    Powelson 

September  28,  1881 Rev.  F.   M.   Baldwin 

April    12,   1883 Rev.   G.   H.   Williamson 

September  17,   1885: Rev.   E.   P.   Keach 

September    6,   1886 Rev.    John    Foy 

April    7,   1887 : Rev.   James    Laffertv 

September   26,   1888 Rev.  W.   G.    Banker 

April    14,   1891 Rev.   W.   S.   Knight,   D.   D. 

September   13,   1893 Rev.  D.  0.   Hanna 

September   16,  1896 Rev.  J.   E.   Sentz 

September  22,   1897 Rev.   H.   O.   Scott,   D.  D. 

September    13,    1905 Rev.    D.    B.    Whimster 

September    12,    1906 Rev.   Huston    Taylor 

FREEDMEN 

September  9,  1875 Rev.   S.   Glascock 

September  27,  1882 Rev.  W.   B.  McElwee 

September   26,   1888 Rev.  W.   S.   Lowry 

April   14,    1891 Rev.    R,    S.    Stevenson 

April   13,  1893 Rev.  E.   E.  Stringfield 

dune   5,    1902 Rev.    Henry    Hepburn 

May   17,  1905 Rev.   B*.  F.  Logan 

April    18,   1907 Rev.   G.   H.    Williamson 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  115 

COLLEGE   AID 

September   17,   1885 Rev.   G.   T.   Thompson 

September  15,  1887 Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson 

September  26.  1888 Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.  D. 

April  14,  1891 Rev.   D.  C.   Hanna 

September   13,   1893 Rev.   O.    E.   Hart 

September    19,    1894 Rev.    G.    H.    Hemingway 

September    17,    1896 Rev.    F.    G.    Knauer 

September  22,  1897 Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.   D. 

September  22,   1898 Rev.    A.   M.   Mann 

April  11,  1901 Rev.  J.  H.   Bright 

April  16,  1903 Rev.  L.  H.   Shane 

September   15,   1904 ' Rev.    C.    Olandt 

May   17,   1905 Rev.   W.   L.   Hackett 

September  12,  1906 Rev.  J.  F.   Shepherd,   Ph.  D. 


COMMISSIONERS  TO  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

PRESBYTERY    OF    SOUTHWEST    MISSOURI. 
Date  Elected. 
Apr.  19,  1867 — Rev.  John  McFarland,  Elder  W.  L.  Scroggs,  Ebenezer  church. 

Alternates — Rev.  J.  A.  Paige,  Elder  Charles  Sheppard,  Calvary  church. 
Apr.  3,  1869 — Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  Elder  George  C.  See,  Calyary  church. 

Alternates — Rev.   J.  A.  Paige,  Elder  Charles  Shephard,  Calvary  church. 
March  26,  1869 — Rev.  J.  A.  Paige.  Elder  J.  L.  Carson,  Calvary  church. 

Alternates — Rev.    W.    R.    Fulton,   Elder   J.    H.    Miller,    Neosho. 
April  16,  1870— Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,'  Elder  W.  R.  Gorton,  Calvary. 

Alternates — Rev.  B.   F.  Powelson,  Elder  J.  O.  Boggs. 

PRESBYTERY  OF  OZARK 

March  31,  1871— Rev.   J.   M.   Brown,  Elder  A.  C.  Schell,  Neosho. 

Alternates — Rev.  J.  H.  Nixon,  Geo.  C.  See,  Calvary. 
April  12,  1872 — Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  Charles  Sheppard,  Calvary. 

Alternates — Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  Perry  Stringfield,  Newtonia  and  Ritchey 
April  10,  1873— Rev.  W.  L.   Miller,  Henry  M.  Hennor,  Salem. 

Alternates — Rev.    C.   H.   Dunlap,  Paul  Orr,  Ozark  Prairie. 
April  25,  1874 — Rev.  L.  J.  Matthews,  A.  D.  Matthews,  Buffalo. 

Alternates — Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap,  D.  L.    Lander,  Neosho. 
April  9,  1875— Rev.  L.  J.  Matthews. 

Alternates — E.   M.   Halbert. 
April  29,  1875—  W.  R.  Gorton,  Calvary. 

Alternates —  T.  H.  Allin. 

March  10,  1876— Rev.  W.   L.   Miller,  J.  W.  Gordon,  Jasper  Clr. 

Alternates — Rev.    E.   M.   Halbert,  A.  Kennedy,  Ebenezer. 
March  30,  1877— Rev.  W.   L.  Miller,  J.  W.  Coultraine,  Mt.  Zion. 

Alternates — D.  L.  Lander,  C.  Rivers,  Carthage. 
March  16,  1878 — Rev.  D.  L.  Lander,  J.  S.  McNeece,  Carthage. 

Alternates — Rev.  D.    K.    Campbell,  S.  Cadwallader. 
April  2,  1879— T.  H.  Allin,  J.  G.  Irwin. 

Alternates — D.  K.  Campbell,  S.  Cadwallader. 

April  14,  1880— Rev.  W.  S.   Knight,  Elder  Wm.  Cochrane,  Ozark  Prairie. 

Alternates — Rev.  J.  P.  Solomon,  Howard  Pierce. 
March  11,  1881— Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  Elder  S.   Cadwallader. 

Alternates — Rev.   B.    F.   Powelson,  W.  A.  Milner. 


u6  Presbyterian  ism   in  the  Ozarks 

April    12,   L882 — Eev.   \V.    A.   Cravens,   Elder  8.  G.   Appleby,   Mi.  Zion. 

Alternates — Rev.   B.   F.   Powelson,    \Y.    A.    Milner. 
April    11,    1KS3— Rev.   D.    P.   Putnam,    I  >.    !>..    Elder   Wm„  M  ilner. 

Alternates— Rev.   G.    H.    Williamson,  W.    H.    Delzell. 
April  3,  1884— Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  Elder 'TO.    II.   Delzell,  Ash  Grove. 

Alternates — Rev.  J.  P.  Solomon,  Wm.  Cochrane,  Ozark    Prairie. 
April  29,  1885— Rev.  G.  F.  Davis,  J.N.   Sears,  White  Oak. 

Alternates — W.  B.    McEhvee,  J.    Strain,  Irwin. 
April  17,  1886— Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  Chas.  Sheppard,  Calvary. 

Alternates — W.   B.  McElwee,  Oscar  Farmer,   Grand   Prairie. 
April   7,  1887 — Rev.  W.   B.    McElwee,  Robert  Hall,  Springfield   Second. 

Alternates — Rev.   T.   R.   Easterday,  ('.  W.    Likens,  Ash  Grove. 
April   12,  1888— Rev.  E.  A.  Hamilton,  Elder  A.  Kennedy,   Ebenezer. 

Alternates — T.    K.    Easterday,   C.  W.   Likens,   Ash   Grove. 
April   10,   1SS9— Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  C.  W.  Likens,  Ash  Grove. 

Alternates— T.   H.  Cleland,  D.  D.,  R.    L.    Galbrfiath. 
April  16,  1890— Rev.   W.   G.  Banker,  Elder  .1.   D|  Peers,  Springfield  Second. 

Alternates— R .   W.   Ely,  W.    R.    Gorton,  Calvary. 
April  16,  1891— Rev.   J.   G.   Reaser,  D.   D.,  C.  F.  McElroy,  Carthage. 

Alternates — Rev.   R.   W.   Ely,  Henrv  Merrill,  Ebenezer. 
April   13,  1892— Rev.  R.    W.    Ely,  Elder' W.    W.    Johnston,   Eureka    Springs. 

Alternates — Rev.  J.  R.   Gass,  W.    H.    Gorton,  Calvary. 
April  13,  1893— Rev.  J.  E.   Leyda,   Elder  J.    D.   Abbe,  Bolivar. 

Alternates — ,7.  R.   Gass,  David   Mayes,  Ash   Grove. 
April  10,  1894— Rev.  J.  R.  Gass,  Elder  David  Mayes,  Ash  Grove. 

Alternates — E.  E.    Stringfield,  John   Orr,  Mt.   Vernon. 
April   18,  1895— Rev.   J.    A.    Gerhard,  Elder  R.  N".    Galbraitb,   Westminster, 
Carthage. 

Alternates — J.    N.   Dinsmore,   R.   H.   James,  Eureka   Springs. 
April  22,  1896— Rev.   E.   E.   Stringfield,  Elder  R.    H.   James,  Eureka   Sp'gs. 

Alternates — J.   E.  Sentz,  F.  A.  Hall,  Calvary. 
April   21,    1897— Rev.  G.    H.    Williamson,   Elder  J.  W.   Silsbv,   Calvary. 

Alternates— D.  N.  Allen,  Prof.  Young,  Webb  City. 
April  6,  1898— Rev.   J.   G.   Reaser,  D.  D.,  Elder  J.    A.    Ready.   Ebenezer. 

Alternates — C.   Memmott,  J.   D.   Abbe,   Bolivar. 
April  6,  1899— Rev.  E.  L.  Renick,  Elder  J.    D.    Abbe,  Bolivar. 

Alternates — J.  C.  Sefton,  S.  A.  Chappell,  Monett. 
April  5,  1900— Rev.  H.  O.  Scott,  D.  D.,   Elder  T.    R.    Stockton,  Monett. 

Alternates — W.    C.    Templeton,  W.    H.    Schmalhorst,   Conway. 
April  9,  1901— Rev.   W.    C.    Templeton,  Elder  F.  A.  Hall,  Calvary." 

Alternates — W.    G.    Moore,  W.  B.  Skinner,  Mt.   Vernon. 
April  7,  1902— Rev.   W.   G.   Moore,  Elder  W.   A.   Wheatley,  Joplin. 

Alternates — R.   W.    Elv,  W.   J.   McLain,  Carthage. 
April   16,  1903— Rev.  R.  W.  Ely,  Elder  W.  B.  Skinner,  Mt.  Vernon. 

Alternates — Rev.   C.   B.   Boving,  T.  J.  Whitmire,  West  Plains. 
April   19,   1904— Rev.    C.    B.    Boving,   Elder  W.    G.    Drake,  Bolivar. 

Alternates— W.    F.    Grundy,   G.   H.  Lee,   West   Plains. 
April  20,  1905— Rev.  W.  F.  Grundy,  Elder  S.  D.  Strain,  Fair  Play. 

Alternates — C.   Olandt,  C.  B.   Sperry,  Springfield  Second. 
April  19,  1906— Rev.  Henry  Little,  Elder  W.   Kilpatric,  West  Plains. 

Alternates — D.  B.  Whimster,  C.  M.  Manker,  Webb  City. 
April   17,   1907— Rev.  E.  E.   Stringfield,  Ph.  D.,  Curtis   Wright,   Carthage. 
Alternates— B.  M.  Shive,  D.  D.,  A.   O.    Schell,  Neosho. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  117 


CHAPTER  VII. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    REGISTER    AND    SKETCHES    OF    THE 

CHURCHES. 

A  NEW  SCHOOL. 

CHURCHES   ORGANIZED   BEFORE   THE   REUNION 
OF  1869-70. 

(N.  B. — Extinct  churches  are  placed  in  brackets.) 


(LITTLE  OSAGE)    (VERNON  COUNTY.) 

The  record  of  the  original  organization  of  the  church  of 
Little  Osage,  Vernon  County,  reads:  "June  27th,  1835.  Agree- 
able to  previous  notice,  the  people  in  this  place  assembled  at 
the  school  house  at  12  o'clock  noon  to  take  into  consideration 
the  subject  of  organizing  a  church  on  Presbyterian  or  Congrega- 
tional principles.  Present :  Rev.  Nathaniel  B.  Dodge,  from  Bou- 
dinot  Missionary  Station ;  Rev.  Amasa  Jones,  from  Harmony 
Missionary  Station,  and  Brethren  Daniel  H.  Austin  and  Richard 
Colby,  from  Harmony  Church.  In  troduced  services  by  a  sermon 
delivered  by  Rev.  A.  Jones  from  Chron.  29  :5.  Articles  of  faith 
and  covenant  read.  Candidates  for  admission  to  church  called 
for.  The  following  presented  themselves:  By  letter,  William 
Modrell,  Nathaniel  B.  Dodge,  Jr.,  George  Douglass,  Elizabeth 
Douglass,  Mary  B.  Dodge,  Elvina  G.  Dodge.  By  examination, 
Elizabeth  Summers,  first  and  second.  The  above  members  were 
accordingly  organized  into  a  church  by  their  publicly  assenting 
to  following  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant.  (Here  follow  twelve 
articles.)  William  Modrell  was  chosen  Deacon  and  Nathaniel 
B.  Dodge,  Jr.,  Clerk."  From  this  record  it  appears  that  the 
church  was  organized  after  the  Congregational  form.  But  the 
record  of  March  25,  1842,  reads:  "Met  acording  to  notice  to 
consider  expediency  of  adopting  Presbytery  form  of  government. 


ii8  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Members  called  upon  to  express  their  views.  *  *  *  Presby- 
tery form  of  government  adopted  and  church  placed  under  care 
of  Harmony  Presbytery.  William  Modrell  and  Josiah  M.  Austin 
chosen  elders."  The  church  continued  under  the  Harmony  and 
First  Osage  Presbyteries  until  August  19,  1859,  when  it  voted  to 
join  the  0.  S.  Presbytery  of  Lafayette.  It  had  a  moribund  exist- 
ence nineteen  years  longer,  when  it  became  extinct  by  reason  of 
removals.  When  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  was  or- 
ganized in  June,  1865,  it  appointed  a  search  committee  to  dis- 
cover any  churches  that  might  be  in  existence  which  did  not 
report  at  the  organization.  On  the  30th  of  September  this  com- 
mittee reported  the  following  additional  churches:  Osceola.  Lit- 
tle Osage,  Marmiton,  Breckenridge,  (Jranby,  North  Spring  River." 
This  church  is  of  interest  because  it  illustrates  the  affinity  of 
Congregationalism  and  Presbyterianism  at  that  time.  The  mis- 
sionaries of  the  twro  bodies  ewre  supported  by  the  same  Board 
and  they  organized  churches  after  the  Congregational  or  Pres- 
byterian form  of  government,  according  to  the  washes  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  transition  from  the  one  to  the  other  was  easily  made  by 
minister  or  church. 

(MARMITON)    (VERNON  COUNTY.) 

In  the  minutes  of  the  new  New  School  Assembly  the  name  of 
this  church  is  given  in  1846  as  Marmetean,  and  in  1859  it  is 
spelled  Marimetean.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  work  among 
the  Osages,  though  it  was  composed  of  white  people  and  was 
organized  in  Vernon  County,  supposedly  before  1837.  It  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  First  Presbytery  of  Osage  until  that 
Presbytery  was  disbanded,  and.  as  seen  in  the  sketch  above,  it 
was  enrolled  in  the  Presbytery  of  Southwrest  Missouri.  No  far- 
ther trace  of  the  church  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  Presby- 
tery. 

(HERMAN  OR  HERMON)   (POLK  COUNTY.) 

As  Vernon  County  has  belonged  to  Kansas  City  Presbytery 
for  some  years,  the  earliest  work  in  the  confines  of  Ozark  Presby- 
tery, as  given  on  page  13.  seems  to  have  been  done  in  Polk 
County,  near  Bolivar.  The  Hermon  Church  is  said  to  have  been 
organized  prior  to  October,  1839.  At  that  time  it  was  supplied 
by  Rev.  E.  P.  Noel.  Its  Assembly  record  indicates  that  it  was 
supplied  by  the  following  ministers :  1843.  Rev.  B.  Rvland ;  1849. 
Rev.  William  H.  Smith ;  1850-54,  Rev.  A.  G.  Taylor.  It  continued 
on  the  roll  marked  vacant,  and  wdth  a  very  small  membership, 
until  the  First  Presbytery  of  Osage  ceased  to  make  a  report. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  119 

MOUNT  ZION   (GREENE  COUNTY). 

The  Mount  Zion  Church  of  Cave  Springs,  Mo.,  is  the  first 
church  in  Southwest  Missouri  organized  by  either  the  New  School 
or  the  Old  School  Church  that  has  persisted  in  the  belief  and 
practice  of  "the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints." 

To  my  knowledge  no  other  church  illustrates  as  well  the 
many  vicissitudes  of  Presbyterian  Church  life  in  this  region  as 
this  one.  The  planting  of  the  church  in  the  home  of  the  godly, 
the  gracious  seasons  of  refreshing  at  camp  meetings,  the  enroll- 
ment of  members  many  miles  distant,  the  sending  out  of  colonies 
to  form  other  churches,  the  palmy  days  of  the  country  church, 
the  depletion  by  removals,  the  devastations  of  war,  the  gathering 
of  the  scattered  remnant,  the  building  of  a  new  house  of  worship 
to  take  the  place  of  the  antiquated  one  of  logs,  the  attempts  at 
religious  education,  the  reaching  of  self-support,  and  then  by 
reason  of  trends  westward  and  cityward,  the  settling  down  to 
a  country  home  mission  church,  these  are  some  of  the  experiences 
of  this  historic  mother  of  churches. 

Near  the  close  of  the  third  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century 
a  few  families  from  East  Tennessee  "pitched  their  tents"  in  the 
timber  two  or  three  miles  north  of  Cave  Springs.  There  seems 
to  have  been  some  affinity  between  this  colony  and  a  similar 
colony  that  composed  the  Hermon  Church,  in  Polk  County, 
though  whether  this  affinity  was  one  of  blood  or  of  native  State, 
or  of  religion,  or  of  all  three,  I  cannot  say.  Be  that  as  it  may,  on 
the  19th  day  of  October,  1839,  Rev.  Ephraim  P.  Noel  and  the 
session  of  the  Hermon  Church  met  the  people  of  the  vicinity  in 
Mrs.  Jane  Renshaw's  house  and  organized  the  Mount  Zion  Church. 
The  names  of  those  entering  into  the  organization  were  Elizabeth 
Stowell,  Stephen  Dillard,  Julia  Ann  Dillard,  Jane  Renshaw.  Mar- 
garet A.  Appleby,  Joseph  A.  Renshaw,  Robert  S.  Reid.  Amanda 
F.  Reid,  David  Appleby  and  Catherine  Appleby.  David  Appleby, 
Robert  S.  Reid  and  Stephen  Dillarad  were  elected  ruling  elders. 
Organized  in  the  home  of  "a  mother  in  Israel,"  this  was  truly  a 
household  church. 

Six  of  the  ten  members  were  related  to  Mrs.  Jane  Renshaw, 
as  follows :  Elizabeeth  Stowell,  a  sister ;  Joseph  Addison  Renshaw, 
a  son ;  Julia  Ann  Dillard  and  Amanda  F.  Reid,  daughters ;  Stephen 
Dillard  and  Robert  S.  Reid,  sons-in-law.  Mrs.  Renshaw's  son. 
Rev.  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  became  the  second  minister  in  charge  of 
the  church,  a  position  that  he  held  longer  than  any  other  min- 
ister. Some  twelve  or  fourteen  of  her  descendants  are  still  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  Two  or  three  belong  to  the  Willard  Church 
and  four  to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield. 
Catherine  Appleby  was  the  wife  of  David  Appleby,  one  of  the 


120  PRESBYTERIANISM    IN    I  III     OZARKS 

firsl  elders  in  the  church,  and  who  was  elected  to  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  organization  of  the  church  of  Springfield.  His  dc- 
scendants  ;u*e  leading  members  in  various  churches  of  this 
t ion.  but  an  attempt  to  trace  them  would  involve  us  in  an  inter- 
minable tangle.  Rev.  E.  P.  Noel  supplied  the  church  with  monthly 
services  until  November,  1841.  when  on  accounl  of  failing  health 
he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  work.  For  ;i  time  the  services 
were  held  in  private  houses,  hut  in  the  spring  a  brush  arbor  was 
constructed,  and  in  the  summer  of  1841  this  gave  place  to  a  shed 
erected  near  the  Cave  Spring  and  used  by  different  denomina- 
tions for  camp  meetings. 

The  gathering  of  the  people  on  foot,  on  horseback,  in  wagons 
and  ox  carts  has  not  inaptly  been  Likened  to  the  gathering  of 
the  tribes  of  Israel  at  their  annual  feasts. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Noel,  who  conducted  the  first  camp  meeting  on 
these  grounds,  left  the  church  with  a  membership  of  fifty-one, 
largely  the  fruit  of  additions  of  immigrants  from  East  Tennessee. 

In  1842  Rev.  G.  A.  Renshaw  took  up  the  work  and  carried  it 
forward  until  the  day  of  his  death,  in  April,  1857.  Under  his 
ministries  the  first  church  building  was  erected  in  1845.  It  was 
a  commodious  structure,  built  of  hewed  logs,  and  had  a  Hi  enlace. 
One  of  the  children  of  this  church  describes  the  pulpit  and  pews 
from  memory  as  follows:  They  were  very  nice,  built  of  Iighl 
wood — probably  sycamore.  The  minister  was  enclosed  in  the 
pulpit  high  above  the  people.  The  pews  were  provided  with 
doors  and  when  an  entire  family  entered  a  pew  the  pew  door 
was  closed."  (The  church  may  yet  have  to  reort  to  some  such 
a  device  to  "hold"  the  children.)  During  the  Civil  War  1his 
building  was  used  as  a  dwelling  and  by  the  soldiers  as  a  com- 
missary and  for  quarters.  Here  the  first  meeting  of  the  reor- 
ganized Presbytery  of  Osage  was  held  in  1867.  And  in  1869  it 
gave  place  to  the  present  house  of  worship.  A  minister  who  knew 
Mr.  Renshaw  well  says  that  he  took  charge  of  this  church  with 
the  feeling  that  to  do  so  would  probably  cost  him  his  life.  These 
feelings  were  evidently  prescient.  Hill's  History  of  .he  Presby- 
tery of  Kansas  City  gives  this  brief  note  in  the  chronological 
register:  "Sup.  Mt.  Zion,  Weaubleau,  Bolivar,  and  ''ieorgctown ; 
d.  Apr.  25,  '57."  A  glance  at  the  map  will  reveal  the  fact  that 
one  might  easily  burn  his  ministerial  life  out  in  sixteen  years  of 
"living,  lodging,  preaching  in  cabins,  now  assisting  his  feeble, 
uncomplaining  wife  on  washing  day,  now  taking  her  place  when 
sickness  prostrates  her,  now  cutting  and  sledding  wood  till 
drenched  with  perspiration,  and  forthwith  across  the  chilly  prai- 
ie  on  an  errand  or  appointment."  And  a  son  of  (x.  A.  M.  Ren- 
shaw is  in  the  ministry  today.  Take  note  ye  who  say  that  young 
men  are  deterred  from  entering  the  ministry   today  by  reason 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  12  1 

of  the  meager  support  offered!  Probably  these  items  belong  in 
another  place.  They  are  incorporated  here  in  order  that  this 
and  other  churches  may  count  the  cost  in  toil  and  sacrifice  at 
which  they  were  planted.  And  while  I  am  digressing  let  us 
note:  In  1881  a  history  of  this  church  was  written  in  which  +he 
historian,  speaking  of  this  house  of  worship,  said:  'It  was 
noted  by  being  the  first  church  house  built  by  the  Presbyteiians 
west  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.'  At  the  semi-centennial  of  the  Ebenezer 
Church,  held  at  Greenfield  in  1892,  Rev.  Nelson  A.  llankin  said: 
"Rev.  John  McFarland  came  as  the  supply  of  this  church.  He 
labored  here  faithfully  during  his  ministry  and  by  his  self-sacri- 
fice and  untiring  efforts  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  ever  erected 
south  of  the  Osage  River  was  built.  This  was  also  the  first  church 
built  exclusively  for  worship  and  dedicated  to  God  in  Dade 
County.  It  was  built  in  '56."  As  this  was  an  Old  School  Church, 
manifestly  Mr.  Rankin  took  no  note  of  the  New  School  work.* 
And  it  is  very  evident  that  the  historian  of  Cave  Springs  Church 
was  either  mistaken  or  else  referred  to  churches  in  this  latitude. 
To  search  no  farther,  the  Boonville  Church  was  completed  in 
1841.  The  writer  of  the  history  of  Greene  County  has  j-.imilarly 
ignored  the  northern  and  southeastern  part  of  the  State  in  the 
statement:  "Mount  Zion  is  one  of  the  very  oldest  Presbyterian 
churches  in  Missouri,  and  lays  claim  to  being  the  first  regularly 
organized  west  of  St.  Louis.  It  is  the  parent  of  three  other 
churches — Springfield,  Mount  Bethel  and  Grand  Prairie."' 

In  1819  the  church  dismissed  eight  members  to  help  consti- 
tute the  new  church  of  Springfield.  Twenty-six  went  out  in 
April,  1852,  to  seek  homes  in  California  and  Oregon,  and,  al- 
though the  majority  of  these  returned  in  a  few  months,  in  April, 
1856,  another  exodus  of  twenty-six  members  to  California  is 
recorded.  Meanwhile,  in  1853,  nineteen  members  had  gone  out 
to  form  the  Liberty  Hill  or  Walnut  Grove  Church.  This  organ- 
ization was  premature  and  was  soon  disbanded  by  Osage  Pres- 
bytery and  its  members  returned  to  the  mother  church. 

The  hegira  of  '56  called  for  the  election  of  four  additional 
elders.  One  of  the  men  elected  to  this  position  was  William  E. 
Thompson,  who  still  serves  the  church  in  that  capacity.  Over 
half  a  century  in  the  eldership  of  one  church  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri is  a  distinction  that  doubtless  belongs  to  no  other  man. 
Though  Mr.  Renshaw  dismissed  103  members  to  other  churches 
and  saw  eight  transferred  to  the  church  triumphant,  at  his  death 

*If  some  critic  should  discover  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Churches  ante- 
dating these  I  have  denominated  firsts,  let  him  remember  the  work  of  that 
branch  is  reserved  for  separate  treatment.  This  part  has  to  do  only  with 
the  churches  that  united  to  form  the  Presbyterian,  U.  S.  A.,  at  the  time  of 
the  reunion  of  1896. 


122  Presbytf.rianism  in  the  Ozarks 

in  March,  1857,  he  left  a  strong  country  church  of  76  members.* 
The  Largest  number  reported  by  the  church  to  the  General  As- 
sembly was  100  in  1851. 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Renshaw,  Rev.  A.  G.  Taylor 
was  employed  by  the  church  and  served  it  for  nearly  three  years. 
He  was  followed  by  Rev.  L.  R.  Morrison,  who  ministered  to  the 
people  from  February,  1860,  to  April,  1861  Mr.  Morrison  .seems 
to  have  been  intimately  associated  with  the  church  before  this, 
for  he  appears  as  Moderator  on  divers  prior  occasions. 

It  is  needless  to  tread  the  wastes  of  the  Civil  War.  Cn  Hie 
winter  of  1865-6  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown  was  employed  by  the  Roard 
of  Home  Missions  to  "gather  up  the  fragments"  in  Southwest 
Missouri.  Of  the  eighty-nine  members  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church 
at  the  beginning  of  the  war  he  found  twenty-five.  Mr.  Brown 
was  a  virile,  vigorous  field  worker,  a  cultured  Christian  gentle- 
man and  a  man  of  strong  convictions.  At  least  a  portion  of 
his  parish  was  the  scene  of  "lively  days."  for  a  card  addressed 
to  the  citizens  of  Southwest  Missouri  was  headed  HEADQUAR- 
TERS REGULATORS.  Walnut  Grove,  June  16.  1866.  Ihe  His- 
tory of  Greene  County,  p.  500:  "About  the  first  of  June  280  of 
them  rode  into  Springfield,  formed  a  hollow  square  in  front  of  the 
court  house,  on  the  public  square,  and  organized  a  meeting. 
Speeches  were  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter; Major  Downing,  Col.  James  H.  Baker  and  Senator  J.  A. 
Mack,  sympathizing  with  the  purposes  and  justifying  the  action 
of  the  'Honest  Mens  League,'  or  'Regulators,'  although  deplor- 
ing the  necessity  of  such  an  organization."  It  is  needless  to  add 
that  Mr.  Brown  was  not  universally  popular.  It  is  said  that  while 
we  are  in  the  impulsive  years  of  youth  we  Think  of  a  man  as 
wholly  good  or  wholly  bad.  As  we  reach  the  meridian  of  life 
we  find  that  the  worst  of  us  have  some  good  and  the  best  of  us 
some  bad.  Leaving  each  one  to  condemn  the  above  action  or  to 
extenuate  it  by  the  exigencies  of  the  troublous  times,  according 
to  the  bent  of  his  mind,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  Brown  did 
a  great  work  for  Presbyterianism  in  this  section.  From  January, 
'68,  to  the  autumn  of  '69  he  remained  in  charge  of  the  church. 
The  old  log  building  gave  place  to  the  present  two-story  frame 
church,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $3,500,  and  dedi- 
cated with  a  sermon  by  Dr.  Timothy  Hill  August  22,  1869.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Brown's  incumbency  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  was  reor- 
ganized in  the  Mount  Zion  Church  the  26th  of  April,  1866.  The 
ministers  of  the  Presbytery  were  Revs.  J.  M.  Brown,  A.  (J.  Tay- 
lor and  William  S.  Messmer.  The  following  day  Enos  M.  Hal- 
bert  was  licensed.     Presbytery  convened  in  the  church  again  in 

*The  Assembly  minutes  give  79.  But  the  church  is  starred  for  that 
year. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  123 

October,  1867.  Ministers  present:  A.  G.  Taylor,  J.  M.  Brown 
and  A.  T.  Norton.  This  Presbytery  ordained  E.  M.  Halbert  and 
licensed  L.  J.  Matthews. 

For  several  years  a  Christian  school  of  high  grade  was  con- 
ducted in  the  church  building',  which,  by  the  way,  was  erected 
with  this  end  in  view.  Some  of  the  leading  Christians  in  various 
churches  in  Southwest  Missouri  were  educated  in  this  school. 
Mr.  Brown  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Enos  M.  Halbert,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  much  of  the  information  in  this  sketch.  Under 
Mr.  Halbert  the  church  assumed  self-support  in  1875,  but  soon 
lapsed  into  dependence  upon  the  board  for  aid.  In  his  historical 
sketch,  prepared  in  1881,  Mr.  Halbert  says:  " Since  the  war 
(civil)  not  less  than  $5,000  has  been  given  to  the  support  of  this 
church  from  the  Home  Mission  Board  alone." 

Other  ministers  who  have  served  this  church  from  time  to 
time  are  Rev.  George  F.  Davis,  1881;  Rev.  C.  C.  Hembree,  '82 
Rev.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  as  Synodical  Missionary,  '83 ;  Rev.  G 
F.  Davis,  '86;  Rev.  J.  C.  Shephard,  '87;  Rev.  J.  F.  Martin,  88 
Rev.  J.  C.  Hanna,  '91 ;  Rev.  C.  E.  Fowler,  '93 ;  Rev.  Jay  B 
Fisher,  '94  (not  ordained  until  '95)  ;  Charles  Memmott,  W.  G 
Moore,  J.  C.  Sefton,  J.  G.  Hewitt.  W.  L.  Hackett. 

In  October,  1899,  the  church  celebrated  its  sixtieth  anniver- 
sary with  appropriate  exercises  lasting  two  days. 

(WEMBLEAU)    (HICKORY  COUNTY.) 

This  church  appears  on  the  Assembly  minutes  but  once,  1843, 
and  then  it  is  spelled  Warbleau.  In  a  letter  written  by  Levi  Mor- 
rison, headed  "Cross  Timbers,  Mo.,  Jan.  21,  1861,"  there  is  given 
a  list  of  churches,  with  succinct  information  concerning  them. 
In  this  letter  this  line  occurs: 

"6  Warbleau.  By  D.  Weir.  Extinct  long  since." 
The  church  was  probably  organized  in  1842.  There  are  in- 
dications that  about  this  time  the  Presbyterians  did  considerab.e 
work  in  Hickory  County.  The  fruits  of  these  early  labors  have 
long  since  vanished  from  mortal  vision.  The  church  was  sup- 
plied by  E.  P.  Noel,  Isaac  B.  Ricketts  and  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw. 
Mr.  Ricketts  took  charge  of  Osceola  and  Warbleau  March  1st, 
1843.  Near  the  close  of  his  five  years'  stay  on  the  field  he  wrote: 
"This  has  been  a  season  of  great  worldly  mindedness.  The  gold 
fever  has  raged  greatly  in  this  part  of  the  world,  and  conse- 
quently religion  has  been  at  a  low  ebb.  There  was  a  great  alarm 
among  the  people  when  'the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness 
and  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noonday'  were  sweeping  off 
their  hundreds  and  thousands  *  *  *  but  when  the  judg- 
ments of  God  were  in  the  land  there  were  not  many,  it  seems. 


124  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

thai  Learned  righteousness."  Many  similar  references  to  the 
California  gold  excitement  and  to  the  cholera  season  of  1849  are 
found  in  the  correspondence  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society.* 

(NORTH  PRAIRIE)    (HICKORY  COUNTY). 

The  ruins  of  Presbyterianism  in  Hickory  County  are  hardly 
as  much  in  evidence  on  the  spot  as  were  those  of  Goldsmith's 
"Deserted  Village."  And  yet  here  was  once  probably  the  strong- 
est Presbyterian  Church  of  the  New  School  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri. Rev.  Enos  M.  Halbert  says:  "The  North  Prairie  Church 
was  organized  about  1843  by  Bedford  Ryland  *  *  *  at  1  lie 
request  of  ten  Tennesseans.  The  church  was  partially  supplied 
till  '45  by  W.  E.  Hendy,  A.  G.  Taylor,  William  H.  Smith  and 
others  hunting  a  home.  About  '45  L.  R.  Morrison  took  charge  and 
supplied  until  1861,  when  it  numbered  175  (or  75  )  communi- 
cants.     Thomas  Davis  and  Joel  B.  Halbert  were  elders." 

In  the  letter  of  L.  R.  Morrison,  referred  to  in  the  preceding 
sketch,  written  from  Cross  Timbers,  is  this  account:  "In  the 
autumn  of  1851  I  moved  to  my  present  location,  not  a  town,  as 
some  brethren  abroad  write  it,  but  a  remote  and  almost  isolated 
spot  of  loveliness,  where  a  few  humble,  praying  men  and  wo- 
men— people  of  my  first  ministerial  charge  in  Tennessee — have 
made  their  little  farms  and  set  up  their  banners  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  Here  I  found  a  church  consisting  of  twenty-four  mem- 
bers, organized  by  Messrs.  Noel  and  Renshaw,*  about  1845.  Tt 
now  numbers  over  100  communicants.  Here  is  the  place  of  our 
Presbyterial  High  School.  This  people  by  persevering  toil  and 
with  a  cash  expenditure  of  not  more  than  $300  has  created  church 
and  school  property  valued  at  $1,400.  The  sons  of  this  church 
have  been  studying  five  years  for  the  ministry,  and  are  in  a  good 
state  of  advancement. '  '* 

The  Assembly  minutes  corroborate  the  statement  of  Mr.  Mor- 
rison rather  than  that  of  Mr.  Halbert  as  to  the  time  the  former 
took  charge  of  the  church,  but  Mr.  Halbert  is  doubtless  nearer 
correct  as  to  date  of  organization.  W.  E.  Hendy  referred  to  in  Lis 
notes  should  have  been. written  W.  K.  Handy.  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown 
wrote  the  following  communication  to  the  Presbyterian  Re- 
porter : 

*Hill  's  Kansas  City  Presbytery,  p.  295. 

*Below  in  the  same  letter  he  says  Noel  and  Eyland. 

*No   dovibt  one   of  these  was  Enos  M.  Halbert,  whose   father  was  an 
elder   here. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  125 

.WARSAW,  Mo.,  Dec.  11,  1865. 
I  arrived  here  last  Friday  with  my  family  and  household  effects,  and 
have  juts  got  to  housekeeping  again.       *       *  Twenty  miles  south  of 

Warsaw,  in  Hickory  County,  is  North  Prairie  Church.  Here  rebellion 
smashed  everything.  The  church  building  is  gone  to  ruin,  minister  and 
members  rebels  of  deepest  dye.  Scattered  and  dead,  so  that  out  of  more 
than  100  only  about  25  are  left.  This  includes  both  white  and  black.  But 
there  is  some  good  material  yet,  through  all  these  long  four  years  of  fiery 
trial,  loyal  to  their  country  and  their  God.  Spent  a  Sabbath  here  in  com- 
pany with  Brother  A.  G.  Taylor  and  preached  to  a  most  attentive  and  feel- 
ing congregation.  The  old  meeting  house  had  been  hardly  used  by  the 
soldiers — windows  all  gone,  stoves  broken  and  withal  so  cold  and  cheer- 
less that  we  decided  to  meet  out  of  doors,  and  there  on  the  sunny  side  of 
the  old  church,  on  that  beautiful  hill,  hallowed  by  the  many  outpourings 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  years  gone  by,  we  had  one  of  the  most  deeply 
interesting  services  it  was  ever  my  lot  to  attend.  Many  tears  were  shed, 
covenants  renewed,  and  I  doubt  not  souls  refreshed.  Dr.  Halbert,  the 
patriarch  of  the  neighborhood,  and  one  of  the  leading  men  in  this  section, 
together  with  his  son,  are  elders  in  the  church.  He  (Dr.  H.)  and  four  sons 
were  in  the  Union  Army  as  soldiers.  One  of  these  sons  (not  the  elder)  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  had  been  studying  for  some  years  with  the 
ministry  in  view,  and  under  the  care  of  the  old  Osage  Presbytery.  He 
was  expecting  to  be  licensed  at  their  meeting  in  the  spring  of  1861,  but 
they  had  so  much  to  do  to  encourage  rebellion  no  time  was  found  to  look 
after  their  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Thus  dropped  by  his  spiritual  fath- 
ers, he  entered  the  Union  Army,  served  his  three  years  with  honor  and 
now,  on  the  return  of  peace,  longs  to  preach  the  gospel.  Brother  Taylor 
(who  has  known  him  for  years)  and  myself  told  him  to  go  ahead.  We 
also  constituted  ourselves  a  kind  of  provisional  Presbytery,  received  him 
as  a  candidate,  directed  him  to  his  studies,  and  expect  to  license  him  next 
spring  as  one  of  the  first  acts  of  our  reconstructed  Osage  Presbytery. 
Brother  Taylor  and  myself  will  supply  them  at  North  Prairie  with  preach- 
ing. From  North  Prairie  I  went  to  Walnut  Grove  and  spent  a  Sabbath  with 
Cave  Spring  Church.  This  field  is  promising.  We  hope  to  retain  thirty 
members — some  of  them  very  desirable  members.  Have  here  two  good 
elders.  I  have  had  a  very  hard,  but  a  very  pleasant  and  encouraging  trip. 
I  was  compelled  to  travel  sixty  miles  on  foot,  often  in  mud  and  rain,  with 
pack'  on  my  back  soldier  fashion.  Hope  to  have  it  easier  now,  as  I  have 
a  horse.  But,  Brother  N.,  we  must  have  more  men  very  soon,  and  men 
that  will  cheerfully  endure  hardness.  If  such  men  be  supplied,  with  God 's 
blessing,  very  much  may  be  accomplished  during  the  next  year  in  South- 
west Missouri.     But  now  is  the  time  to  strike. 

Yours  in  the  missionary  work, 

JOHN  M.  BROWN. 

After  over  forty  years  the  need  voiced  above  is  the  need  of 
the  hour !  The  expectations  as  to  the  North  Prairie  Church  seem 
never  to  have  been  realized.  Desultory  mention  is  made  of  the 
church  on  the  records  of  Presbytery  as  late  as  April  11,  1888, 
and  then  it  disappeared. 

SPRINGFIELD— BELLVIEW   (GREENE  COUNTY). 

Fortunately  the  original  records  of  this  ante-bellum  church 
fire  preserved  and  are  now  in  possession  of  the  clerk  of  the  ses- 


i2(>  Presbyteriamsm   in  the  OzaRKS 

sion  of  Calvary  Church.  This  church  was  organized  on  Sabbath 
afternoon,  April  23,  1849,  "at  the  brick  school  house  in  Spring- 
field." Dr.  Art. -mas  Billiard,  of  St.  Louis,  and  Rev.  (I.  A.  M. 
Renshaw  organized  the  church  and  placed  it  under  care  of  Osage 
Presbytery.  Eight  members  from  the  Mount  Zion  Church  and 
seven  from  other  churches  constituted  the  charter  members.  At 
the  head  of  the  list  of  members  stands  the  name  of  David  Ap- 
pleby. At  the  organization  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church  (1839)  he 
was  made  one  of  the  first  ruling  elders.  This  position  he  held 
alone  for  a  time  in  the  Springfield  Church.  In  December  B.  <'. 
Thomas  was  ordained  to  take  part  with  Mr.  Appleby  in  the  elder- 
ship. The  church  seems  to  have  shifted  its  places  of  meeting 
from  the  school  house  to  the  court  house,  the  residence  of  Davia 
Appleby,  the  Little  Prairie  School  House,  the  Methodist  Church 
in  Springfield,  etc.,  until  the  erection  of  its  own  house  of  wor- 
ship on  Jefferson  street,  between  East  Walnut  and  Elm  streets. 
Rev.  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church,  was  Mod- 
erator of  the  session  while  the  church  was  without  a  stated  min- 
ister. Rev.  Daniel  Emmerson  was  the  first  minister  in  charge 
(August,  1849-May,  1850).  By  reason  of  his  decided  position  on 
the  questions  of  the  day  he  soon  became  persona  non  grata  to  a 
part  of  the  church,  and  it  was  decided  that  his  usefulness  was 
at  an  end  in  this  church.  For  several  years  the  church  was 
grouped  with  the  Mount  Zion  Church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
G-.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  but  for  a  longer  time  it  is  marked  V  in  the 
Assembly  minutes.  In  1859  Rev.  Levi  Morrison  was  employed  for 
one-fourth  time. 

The  Presbytery  of  Osage  appears  to  have  met  with  this 
church  in  April.  1857,  at  which  time  this  suggestive  record  was 
made  in  the  sessional  records : 

"Examined  and  approved  except  some  orthographical  and 
grammatical  mistakes,   including  page  13. 

"Springfield,  Mo.,  April,  '57. 

JOHN  M'MILLAX.  Mod." 

In  the  fall  of  1858  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  "resolved  itself 
into  an  independent  Presbytery  until  its  next  meeting,  stating 
as  its  reason  that  it  believed  some  of  its  members  and  churches 
desired  to  connect  with  the  Old  School  and  some  with  the  United 
Synod,  and  advising  all  who  wished  to  withdraw  to  do  so  by  the 
vote  of  a  regular  church  meeting  before  its  next  stated  meet- 
ing in  March  following."  It  appears  that  at  this  meeting  in 
March,  1859,  the  Presbytery  elected  to  unite  with  the  United 
Synod.  As  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  are  lost,  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  the  Presbytery  did  not  become  extinct  for 
some  time  after  this,  as  the  approval  of  the  minutes  of  the  Spring- 
field Church  shows,  cf.  p.  36: 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  127 

"Hall's  School  House — April  6th,  1861.  Examined  thus  far 
and  approved. 

"L.  R.  MORRISON,  Modr.  of  Osage  Presbytery." 

Mr.  Morrison  and  the  session  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to 
call  a  congregational  meeting,  as  suggested  by  the  Presbytery, 
but  favored  the  transfer  of  the  church  to  ecclesiastical  relations 
with  the  United  Synod.  This  position  was  highly  displeasing 
to  the  members  of  the  church  living  in  town.*  Hence  arose  tbe 
two  distinct  parties  referred  to  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Quarles  in- 
corporated in  the  sketch  of  Calvary  Church.  The  descendants 
of  both  parties  are  still  living  in  this  community.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly gratifying  to  be  able  to  assure  them  that  while  the  records 
give  evidence  of  intense  feelings  and  some  mistakes,  above  them 
all  there  are  evidences  of  ability  and  piety  on  both  sides.  In 
December  of  1859  two  additional  elders  were  elected  by  the  part 
of  the  church  that  favored  ecclesiastical  relations  with  the  Old 
School  body.  Then  followed  the  organization  of  Calvary  Church, 
as  narrated  elsewhere.  The  Springfield  Church  followed  the 
leadings  of  Presbytery,  kept  the  elders  who  lived  in  the  country 
and  retained  the  name  and  the  records.  During  the  war  the 
Presbytery  became  extinct  and  the  church  was  almost  if  not  alto- 
gether disbanded. 

The  last  sessional  record  is  dated  August  29.  1864.  and  is 
signed  by  David  Appleby  as  clerk.  Then,  after  a  blank  page  and 
certain  items  of  information  inscribed  by  a  later  hand,  this  item 
appears  in  the  handwriting  of  the  next  clerk:  "The  minutes 
of  several  intermediate  meetings  of  session  are  lost."  The  rest 
of  this  page  is  blank  and  the  sessional  records  are  resumed  under 
date  of  October  24.  1870.  Four  other  sessional  entries  are  made, 
the  last  one  dated  November  14,  1870.  Rev.  James  A.  Paige, 
pastor  of  Calvary  Church,  was  the  Moderator,  and  the  elders 
were  James  N.  Appleby.  W.  E.  Witherspoon  and  James  P.  Mc- 
Curdy.  It  will  be  noted  that  these  entries  were  all  made  after 
the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School  churches  and  the  con- 
sequent organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  At  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  April  26,  1866,  when  the 
churches  were  being  enrolled  "Rev.  W.  S.  Messmer  reported 
that  he  had  organized  a  church  at  Prairie  Grove,  consisting  of 
eleven  members,  to  be  known  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Springfield ;  that  the  church  recpiested  to  be  taken  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  and  that  the  session  had  appointed  David 
Appleby  to  represent  them  in  this  body.  The  request  of  the 
church  was  granted."  The  retaining  of  the  name  "Springfield," 
and  the  records  and  the  eldership  indicate  that  this  was  a  resus- 

*The    sketch    of    Calvary    Church    should    be    read    in    connection    with, 
this    one. 


128  PrESBYTI.RI  \\IS\I     l\    THE    OZARKS 

citation  rather  than  an  organization.  During  the  war  Calvary 
Church  bad  obtained  the  building  by  purchase  and  tin-  proba- 
bility is  thai  it  had  absorbed  mosl  of  the  membership.  After 
the  Hili  of  November,  L870,  the  records  were  placed  in  posses 
sion  of  Calvary  Church.  The  name  of  the  Springfield  Church 
was  changed  to  Bellview  October  11,  1873.  In  the  new  hook  for 
sessional  records  is  this  statement:    > 

"All  the  records  of  this  church  previous  to  Feb.  1st,  1876, 
are  lost.  JAMES  X.  APPLEBY,  ( '.  S." 

This  may  be  true  of  the  records,  between  November  14th. 
1870,  and  the  above  date.  But  we  have  seen  that  the  records 
prior  to  the  latter  date  are  not  all  lost. 

It  appears  that  the  purpose  was  to  place  the  old  record  hook 
in  the  cornerstone  of  Calvary  Church.  Why  this  was  not  done 
I  cannot  tell,  but  after  the  last  record  (i.  e.,  November  14th,  1870  I, 
is  this  interesting  communication,  which  together  with  the  facl 
that  the  book  had  been  placed  in  possession  of  Calvary  Church 
indicates  that  the  asperities  of  other  times  had  happily  been  en- 
tirely wiped  out: 

"As  matters  of  possible  future  interest  for  persons  who  may  be  in- 
terested in  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  view  of  placing  this 
book  with  other  documents  and  papers  in  the  cornerstone  of  the  new 
edifice  on  St.  Louis  street,  in  Springfield,  Mo.,  the  writer  (who  with  his 
wife  are  now  the  only  original  members  of  the  church)  states  that  during 
the  Civil  War  the  only  religious  services  held  in  Springfield  were  held  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  post  chaplain,  Rev.  F.  H.  Wines,  preached 
there  frequently  and  sustained  for  two  years  a  large  Sunday  school.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Murdock  and  Rev.  Mr.  Fulton,  O.  S.  ministers,  were  often  able 
to  give  their  services  to  us,  and  occasional  services  were  held  there  by 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  brethren,  the  churches  of  both  de- 
nominations being  in  public  use,  one  for  an  arsenal  and  the  other  as  a 
military  storehouse.  The  members  of  the  church  were  largely  loyal.  Messrs. 
Hursh,  Henry  and  Charles  Sheppard  serving  as  officers  in  the  Union  Army. 
Capt.  Lee  served  throughout  the  war  most  creditably  in  places  of  great 
pecuniary  responsibility.  The  country  elders,  who  had  sustained  Rev.  Mr. 
Morrison  in  his  transfer  of  the  church  and  Presbytery,  remained  loyal  and 
joined  the  Old  School  Church  themselves,*  and  from  their  efforts  has  since 
sprung  Bellview  Church,  seven  miles  northeast  of  Springfield,  a  solid  and 
useful  church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison  was  captured  by  Gen.  Fremont's 
army  and  marched  a  long  distance  on  foot  to  Springfield.  His  health  gave 
way  and,  though  an  earnest  worker  as  long  as  he  was  able,  he  is  not  be- 
lieved to  have  had  a  regular  charge  after  the  beginning  of  the  war.  He 
died  in  Cooper  County,  Mo.,  about  the  year  1867.  Major  John  Hursh  died 
November  9,  1871.  He  was  a  faithful  servant  of  the  church  in  its  days  of 
poverty  and  weakness.  Capt.  Lee  wa  for  many  years  elder.  He  died 
November  12,  1873.  Both  are  buried  in  Hazelwood  Cemetery.  Rev.  J.  A. 
Paige   became   pastor   of   the   church    December,    1866,    and     remained   until 

*N.  B. — This  was  evidently  at  the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  Schools, 
for  these  elders  belonged  to  the  New  School  until  that  reunion,  unless, 
forsooth,  the  Springfield  Church  itself  belonged  to  the  O.  S.  ror  a  time  dur- 
ing the  war. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  129 

about  April,  1872.  Eev.  Cyrus  H.  Dunlap  then  was  called  to  the  church, 
which  place  he  still  holds,  to  the  great  content  of  his  people.  Calvary- 
Church  has  for  many  years  sustained  its  own  services  and  given  a  helping 
hand  to  feeble  churches.  It  contributes  regularly  to  all  the  hoard  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  turns  not  away  from  recognized  worthy  unde- 
nominational enterprises.  Its  influence  is  widespread  for  good  and  its 
prospects   for   usefulness  widening  as   the   age   advances. 

"June   20,   1878.  HENKY    SHEPPARD." 

Just  below  in  the  same  handwriting  is  this  note : 

' '  The  records  of  Calvary  church  are  kept  in  another  book.  It  suc- 
ceeded the  organization  of  which  this  book  tells,  and  is  the  same  church 
enlarged   and   improved    in   many  ways." 

The  Bellview  Church  erected  its  present  house  of  worship,  in 
1876  at  a  cost  of  $860.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap 
in  November  of  that  year.  Changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  com- 
munity have  almost  depopulated  the  church,  but  the  building 
and  the  cemetery  grounds  back  of  it  have  been  kept  in  good 
repair.  A.  B.  Appleby  is  the  only  resident  elder — a  grandson  of 
David  Appleby,  who  was  a  charter  elder  in  the  Mount  Zion 
Church  and  later  in  the  Springfield  Church. 

Among  the  ministers  who  have  served  this  church  are  Dan 
iel  Emmerson,  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  A.  G.  Taylor,  W.  S    Messmer. 
J.  M.  Brown,  John  H.  Wilson,  E.  M.  Halbert,  G.  P.  Davis,  C.  C. 
Hembree,  E.  A.  Hamilton  and  J.  B.  Fisher. 

(GASCONADE)    (WRIGHT  COUNTY.) 

This  church  first  appears  in  the  minutes  of  1851  with  nine 
members.  From  '52  until  the  Osage  Presbytery  quit  reporting  it 
appears  with  Rev.  Isaac  B.  Ricketts  as  S.  S.  It  never  reported 
more  than  thirty-seven  members. 

(WALNUT  GROVE)  (GREENE  COUNTY.) 

In  a  historical  sermon  preached  at  Cave  Springs  some  yesrs 
ago  by  Rev.  Enos  M.  Halbert  are  these  words:  "On  July  7th, 
'53,  nineteen  members  were  dismissed  from  Cave  Springs  Church 
(Mount  Zion)  to  organize  at  Liberty  Hill,  called  the  Walnut 
Grove  Church.  The  organization  was  premature,  lasted  but  a 
short  time,  when  at  their  own  request  Osage  Presbytery  dissolved 
the  church  and  the  members  returned  to  this  church." 

The  church  was  organized  by  Revs.  G.  A.  M  RenshaAV  and 
A.  G.  Taylor.  It  was  supplied  for  a  year  or  more  by  Renshaw 
and  after  that  by  Taylor,  and  it  appears  on  the  Assembly  min- 
utes as  long  as  Osage  Presbytery  reported  to  the  Assembly. 


1 30  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

(RED   HILL)    (GREENE  COUNTY). 

In  the  list  of  New  School  churches  given  by  Rev.  L.  R.  Mor- 
rison this  note  is  made:  "Red  Hill.  A.  G.  Taylor.  Nearly  dead. 
1'.  S."  The  church  first  appears  on  Assembly  minutes  in  1854, 
and  remains  there  as  long  as  Osage  Presbytery  reported.  If 
there  was  anything  left  it  evidently  went  to  the  United  Synod. 
It  was  supplied  continuously  by  the  organizer,  but  never  reported 
more  than  seven  members.  Let  us  cherish  the  hope  of  the  little 
girl  in  the  old  form  that  "we  are  seven"  still  in  the  church  tri- 
umphant. 

The  ten  churches  sketched  herein  are  probably  all  that  the 
New  School  Church  organized  in  our  territory  prior  to  the  war. 
For  three  or  four  years  William  H.  Smith  appears  to  have 
preached  at  Hermitage,  in  Hickory  County,  and  various  other 
preaching  stations  were  maintained ;  but  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  discover  neither  Hermitage  nor  these  other  stations  had 
actual  organizations. 

When  the  "fragments  were  gathered  up"  after  the  war  the 
new  Presbytery  of  Osage  enrolled  but  two  of  these  ten  churches, 
i.  e.,  Springfield  and  Mount  Zion.  In  1867  the  former  reported 
fifteen  members  and  the  latter  seventy.  Little  Osage  and  Mar- 
miton  had  gone  to  the  Old  School.  Out  of  Springfield  had  gone 
the  stronger  church  of  Calvary  (Old  School).  Others  had  "fallen 
on  sleep"  that  knows  no  waking. 

(WHITE  ROCK)    (TEXAS  COUNTY). 

(LICKING)   (TEXAS  COUNTY). 

(ST.  ANNE)    (PULASKI  COUNTY). 

(PEACE  VALLEY)    (HOWELL  COUNTY). 

Shortly  after  the  reorganization  of  Osage  Presbytery  Rev. 
L.  J.  Matthews  seems  to  have  labored  under  a  roving  commission 
over  several  counties  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  Presbytery.  He 
preached  in  county  school  houses,  in  private  dwellings,  in  Hous- 
ton and  Mountain  Grove,  as  well  as  in  the  places  designated 
above.  The  records  of  Ozark  Presbytery  (Book  B,  p.  110)  in- 
clude this  entry  for  September  6th.  1878:  "On  motion  the  Peace 
Valley  Church  was  restored  to  our  roll.  On  motion  the  names 
of  Licking  and  St.  Anne  churches  were  stricken  from  the  roll 
and  the  members  transferred  to  the  White  Rock  Church. 

White  Rock  was  organized  by  A.  G.  Taylor,  and  was  en- 
rolled April  23,  1868.  Licking  and  Peace  Valley  appear  on  the 
roll  of  April.  '69.    They  were  probably  organized  by  -I.  M.  Brown. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  131 

The  register  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  indicates  that  St.  Anne 
was  received  at  the  organization,  but  the  name  does  not  then 
appear  on  either  the  Assembly  or  the  Presbyterial  roll. 

In  September,  1878,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Church  Erection  was  requested  to  correspond  with  the  board  to 
get  "permission  to  sell  the  Peace  Valley  Church  building  with 
the  understanding  that  the  proceeds  be  granted  to  the  church 
of  West* Plains  to  erect  a  building." 

The  main  interest  in  these  churches  centers  in  the  fact  that 
nearly  forty  years  ago  Presbyterianism  had  a  start  in  a  territory 
that  has  been  abandoned  for  many  years.  The  men  of  Osage 
Presbytery  were  true  pioneers  and  pressed  into  "the  wilderness 
and  the  desert"  with  the  gospel. 

OLD  SCHOOL  CHURCHES  ORGANIZED  BEFORE  THE   RE- 
UNION OF  1869-70. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Mis- 
souri June  22,  1865,  the  roll  consisted  of  four  churches — Eben- 
ezer,  Mount  Vernon  (now  Ozark  Prairie),  Calvary  and  Bolivar. 
Some  of  the  New  School  churches  given  above  subsequently  be- 
came Old  School.  But  I  find  no  trace  of  others  organized  before 
this  date. 

EBENEZER  (DADE  COUNTY). 

W.  L.  Scroggs,  for  over  forty-four  years  an  elder  in  this 
church,  asserted  at  its  semi-centennial  that  in  1840  J.  M.  Rankin 
moved  from  East  Tennessee  to  Dade  County,  Mo.,  and  was  proba 
bly  the  first  (Old  School)  Presbyterian  who  settled  in  South  west 
Missouri  south  of  the  Osage  River.  According  to  another  author- 
ity, Mr.  Rankin  is  said  to  have  come  before  1839.  About  that 
time  Springfield  was  the  nearest  postoffice  and  seat  of  justice. 
"The  laws  of  the  State  were  scarcely  known  and  but  rarely  ad- 
ministered in  Southwest  Missouri.  Magistrates  were  few  and  far 
between,  and  it  is  related  by  John  Crisp,  who  married  in  those 
days,  that  he  had  to  take  his  bride  forty  miles  to  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace."  Greenfield  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  '41,  and  a  post- 
office  was  established  in  '41  or  '42.  On  the  4th  of  June,  1842,  the 
Ebenezer  Church  was  organized.  Its  nearest  neighbor  of  the 
same  branch  of  the  church  was  Lexington,  150  miles  to  the  north, 
whilst  Boonville,  far  to  the  northeast,  lent  her  pastor  as  organ- 
izer for  this  church  in  the  wilderness.  The  church  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  W.  G.  Bell  as  per  order  of  Missouri  Presbytery. 
Twenty-eight  persons  entered  the  organization,  as  follows:    John 


i  }2  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

.M.  and  Pplly  Rankin,  Margaret  Rankin.  Nathan  Wilkinson,  Sr., 
Nathan  Wilkinson,  Jr.,  Rebecca  Wilkinson,  -lane  Wilkinson, 
Nancy  Morris.  John  Tarbot.  Mary  Tarhot.  Jacob  Mont -joinery. 
Rachel  Montgomery,  Ann  A.  Montgomery,  Nancy  S.  Davidson. 
W.  W.  Rankin,  Margaret  Rankin.  Margarel  Gardner,  James 
Sharp,  Alfred  Cowan.  Hannah  (a  negro  slave),  Mary  Weir.  Sr., 
Betsy  Wilkinson,  Sarah  Wilkinson.  Nancy  Bowers,  Thomas  Ross, 
Sarah  C.  Ross.  Margaret  Rntledge,  George  Rntledge.  On  the 
day  of  organization  there  were  received  into  the  church  on  pro- 
fession of  their  faith:  Samuel  C.  Rankin.  David  C.  Rankin.  Jane 
Montgomery,  Josiah  C.  Montgomery  and  Lafayette  I).  Mont- 
gomery. 

The  first  elders  were  Nathan  Wilkinson,  Sr.,  Jacob  Mont- 
gomery and  John  M.  Rankin.  In  1892  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  this  church  was  commemorated.  At  that  time  it  was  noted  that 
seven  of  her  sons  had  taken  a  collegiate  and  theological  educa- 
tion and  entered  the  ministry,  viz :  W.  M.  Mitchell,  S.  W.  Mitch- 
ell, J.  N.  Rankin,  Joseph  W.  Scroggs,  L.  M.  Scroggs  and  W.  A. 
McMinn. 

The  recurrence  of  family  names  among  the  original  mem- 
bers in  this  list  of  ministers  and  in  the  present  roll  of  official  and 
lay  members  is  worthy  of  note.  Those  old  families,  mostly  from 
Tennessee  and  Virginia,  brought  with  them  Dodridge's  "Rise 
and  Progress,"  Baxter's  "Saints'  Rest,"  the  Confession  of  Faith 
and  the  church  paper. 

The  minister  who  organized  the  church  proceeded  in  the 
uual  way  until  he  came  to  the  place  where  a  name  was  to  be 
given,  then  "J.  M.  Rankin  arose  with  tears  streaming  down  his 
face  and  said,  'Let  the  name  be  Ebenezer,  for  hitherto  the  Lord 
hath  helped  us.'  '  For  about  two  years  the  ruling  elders  exer- 
cised spiritual  care  over  the  flock,  and  then  in  1844  Rev.  Valen- 
tine Pentzer  became  the  first  stated  supply,  laboring  with  this 
flock  for  three  years.  The  quality  of  his  work  may  be  judged 
from  sketches  of  his  sermons  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

From  1848  to  1860  Rev.  John  McFarland  ministered  to  this 
church.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1854.  It  was 
built  of  brick,  which  wyere  subsequently  used  in  the  erection  of 
the  commodious  manse  that  now  gives  shelter  to  the  pastor.  The 
erection  of  this  first  house  of  worship  was  made  possible  by  the 
generosity  of  Elder  James  M.  Mitchell,  who  invested  over  $600 
in  this  building.  But  He  who  sat  over  against  the  treasury  and 
saw  a  poor  widow  cast  in  two  mites  noted  another  gift.  In  the 
roll  of  members  above  is  this  name,  "Hannah"  (a  negro  slave). 
In  reality  "Hannah"  Cowan  had  been  freed  in  Tennessee,  but 
she  "came  with  her  young  master  to  Missouri  and  lived  with 
the   family   until    her   death.      When    the     *     *     *     church   was 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  133 

built  there  was  a  scarcity  of  money.  *  *  *  The  solicitor,  who 
had  been  talking  with  the  other  members  of  the  family,  was 
leaving  without  presenting  the  subject  to  her.  Aunt  Hannah 
walked  in  with  a  half  dollar  in  her  hand,  which  she  had  taken 
from  her  scanty  store,  and  said,  'Will  this  put  in  one  brick?'  : 
This  house  was  used  so  freely  by  different  denominations 
after  the  war  that  an  opinion  gained  some  prevalence  that  it 
was  originally  built  as  a  union  church.  It  appears  that  numer- 
ous ranters  abused  the  liberty  granted  them  to  preach  by  making 
efforts  to  demolish  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith.  In  a 
discussion  that  was  carried  on  in  the  town  paper  in  1868  the 
trustees  laid  down  the  principles  on  which  the  house  could  be 
freely  used  by  other  denominations,  and  made  this  financial 
statement : 

"The  house  was  built  in  the  years  A.  D.  1854  and  1855,  and  the  first 
cost  of  the  building  and  furniture,  with  all  subsequent  repairs,  amounts  to 
the  sum  of  $2,175;  and  the  money  which  footed  the  bills  came  from  the 
following  sources,  as  appears  from  the  original  subscription  lists  still  on 
hands,  viz: 

Members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Dade  County $1,191.00 

Members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  St.  Louis 121.00 

Members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Tennessee 40.00 

Appropriated  by  Church  Extension  Board  of  Presbyterian  Church....      300.00 

Total    amount   paid  by   Presbyterians $1,652.00 

Total  amount  paid  by  liberal  men  of  the  world 383. 0~0 

Total   amount   paid   by   Cumberland   Presbyterians 70.50 

Total  amount  paid  by  Methodists 47.00 

Total   amount  paid  by  Baptists   22.50 

Sum  total  $2,175.00 

After  Rev.  John  McFarland  came  Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  1301- 
1878.  Under  his  faithful  ministrations  the  church  survived  ih' 
ravages  of  war  better  than  any  other  church  of  either  branch  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri.  In  1866  it  numbered 
forty  members  and  was  the  strongest  church  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Southwest  Missouri.  In  this  historic  church  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  and  the  Women's  Presbyterian  Society  have  had  their 
birth,  the  former  on  the  29th  of  September.  1870,  the  latter  Sep- 
tember, 1876. 

Here,  too,  on  the  reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  churches,  the  new  Presbyterv  was  organ- 
ized June  18th,  1907. 

The  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  church  in 
the  summer  of  1892  brought  to  the  old  home  many  of  her  sons 
and  daughters  who  had  long  since  taken  up  their  abode  in  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  country.  At  that  time  there  had  been  on  the 
roll  373  names,  but  there  had  never  been  more  than  an  averatre 


1 34  Presbyterian  ism   in  the  O/.arks 

of  100  in  any  year  since  the  organization.     The  celebration  was 

held  in  the  second  house  of  worship  which  was  erected  under 
the  ministry  of  the  veteran  church  builder  of  Ozark  Presbytery — 
Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson— in  1884.  Erected  a1  a  cost  of  $4,500,  it 
is  still  a  Bethel  to  numerous  descendants  of  "those  who  saw  tin- 
first  house  in  its  glory." 

The  anniversary  services  began  with  an  address  by  Rev.  \V. 
S.  Knight,  D.  D.,  of  Carthage,  entitled  "Presbyterianism  in  Ozark 
Presbytery,"     The  second   day  of  the   celebration    Rev.   Nelson 

A.  Rankin,  a  son  of  the  church,  gave  exceedingly  interesting  me- 
moirs of  the  church,  and  he  was  followed  by  W.  L.  Seroggs,  at 
that  time  an  elder  for  forty-four  years,  on  "The  Boys  of  the 
Church."  Then  came  an  address  by  Mrs.  Maty  McFarland, 
widow  of  Rev.  John  McFarland,  and  a  veritable  "mother  in 
Israel,"  known  and  loved  wherever  the  Presbyterial  Society  oP 
Ozark  Presbytery  has  met.  Her  address  was  entitled  "The  Wo- 
men of  the  church.  With  these  addresses  before  me  I  can 
scarcely  keep  my  pen  from  reproducing  them — in  part  at  least, 
and  then  I  would  not  know  where  to  stop, — so  I  must  content 
myself  with  culling  from  them  for  other  parts  of  this  story. 

The  afternoon  of  the  second  day  was  devoted  to  short  talks 
and  reminiscences  and  a  poem  written  by  Mrs.  S.  M.  McClure. 
entitled  "Church  Reminiscences  of  Fifty  Years."  In  this  poem 
the  fortunes  of  the  church  are  delineated,  and  the  names  of  its 
leading  members  and  of  its  ministers  are  interwoven  with  con- 
siderable skill.     But  it  is  too  lengthy  to  reproduce  here. 

The  ministers  who  have  served  the  church  are :  V.  Pentzer, 
1844-46;  John  McFarland,  1848-60;  William  R.  Fulton,**  1861-78; 

B.  F.  Powelson,  1879-82;  G-.  H.  Williamson,  1882-85;  John  Foy, 
1886 ;  D.  R.  Crockett,  1887 ;  W.  G.  Banker,  1887-90 ;  John  R.  Gass. 
1891-98 ;  W.  G.  Moore.  1899-1902 ;  William  F.  Bishop,  1903 ;  E.  E. 
Mathes,  1904-5 ;  J.  E.  Johnston,  1905.— The  latter  took  charge  of 
the  joint  congregations  of  the  Ebenezer  Church  and  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  with  a  view  to  effecting  the  union. 
which  was  consummated  at  the  organization  of  the  new  Presby- 
tery of  Ozark. 

The  subjoined  list  of  ruling  elders  indicates  the  sons  who 
have  followed  in  the  official  footsteps  of  their  fathers: 

*J.   M.   Rankin.   1842-1844.  *W.     W.     Rankin,     1844-1850. 

*Nathan  Wilkinson,  1842-1850.    son  of  J.   M. 

Removed.  *W.  L.  Seroggs.  1848. 

*Jacob  Montgomery,  1842  (?).  -Thomas  Ross.  1844. 

*J.  A.  Strain.  1843-1859.     Re-  *M.   A.   Garrison.   1844. 

moved.  *J.  L.  Rankin.  1851. 

*A.  M.  Wilson.  1846-1858.  *J.  M.  Mitchell.  1854. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  135 

*John  E.  Mills,  1871.  John  E.  Scruggs,  1894,  son  of 

*Robert  C.  McMinn,  1871.  W.  L.  S. 

*Henry  Merrill,  1875-1907.  F.  H.  Holland,  1900. 

*Alfred  Kennedy,  1875.  E.  M.  Kimber,  1900. 

*Henrv  C.  Mead,  1879.  L.  C.  Davisson.  1900. 

C.  W.  Likens,  1891.    Removed.  P.  D.  Stringfield,  1900,  son  of 

*P.  Stringfield,  1891-1893.  P.  S. 

John    A.     Ready,     1894.      Re-  M.  L.  Mitchell.  1900. 

moved  . 

*Deceased.        **Probaly   this   should  be   1860.      A   memorial   states   that 
Mr.  Fulton  served  the  church  nearly  nineteen  years. 

MOUNT  VERNON    (NOW  OZARK  PRAIRIE)— (LAWRENCE 

COUNTY). 

Some  twelve  years  after  the  organization  of  the  Ebenezer 
Church  her  minister.  Rev.  John  McFarland,  organized  a  church 
at  Mount  Vernon,  January  2d,  1854.  The  church  was  first  called 
the  Lawrence  Hill  Church,  then  Mount  Vernon  and  later  was 
changed  to  Ozark  Prairie.  The  location  as  well  as  the  name  was 
changed,  the  former  by  reason  of  the  disturbed  condition  inci- 
dent to  the  Civil  War.  The  charter  members  were :  Nathan 
Wilkerson,  Rebecca  W.  (his  wife),  Samuel  M.  Anderson  and  wife 
Emily,  William  Orr  and  wife  Jane,  Mrs.  Mary  Johnson,  Mrs.  Vir- 
ginia Hash,  Cyrus  Poage  and  wife  Mary,  Rebecca  A.  Poage,  Mrs. 
Sarah  J.  Orr,  William  H.  Wilson  and  wife  Isabella  J. 

Nathan  Wilkerson,  Samuel  Anderson  and  Cyrus  Poage  were 
elected  ruling  elders.  The  staunchness  of  the  Presbyterianism  of 
these  members  is  abundantly  testified.  Some  of  them  prior  to 
the  organization  trudged  their  way  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath 
through  "the  wilderness"  to  Greenfield,  where  they  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Ebenezer  Church.  Their  descendants  are  found  in 
the  eldership  to  this  day.  From  the  organization  to  the  eve  of 
the  Civil  War  the  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  John  McFarland. 
While  supplying  the  church  Mr.  McFarland  started  East  to  re- 
ceive treatment  for  a  cancer.  While  waiting  for  the  stage  coach 
at  Springfield  he  fell  among  thieves,  who  stripped  him  of  his 
possessions.  Presbytery  was  then  in  session  at  Greenfield.  The 
news  of  this  misfortune  reached  the  "fathers  and  brethren,"  and 
in  their  sorrow  and  perplexity  as  to  what  to  do  some  one  said, 
"Let  us  pray."  "Uncle  Billy"  Orr  was  never  heard  to  pray  in 
public,  but  he  walked  up  to  the  Moderator's  desk,  laid  down  a 
ten-dollar  bill  and  said,  "There's  my  prayer."  The  Presbytery 
caught  the  suggestion  of  the  answer  to  an  unuttered  prayer  and 
a  generous  contribution  hastened  the  man  of  God  on  his  mission 


136  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

for  relict*.  "Uncle  Billy"  was  never  an  elder  in  the  church— 
presumably  on  account  of  his  retiring  disposition.  But  he  has 
given  three  sons  and  a  grandson  to  the  eldership  in  the  church. 
In  1872  the  church  erected  its  present  substantial  and  commodi- 
ous brick  church  on  Ozark  Prairie — hence  the  name.  When  a 
location  was  sought  it  was  placed  seven  miles  from  "Uncle 
Billy's"  home  because,  as  he  said,  the  people  would  be  in  that 
locality  and  he  could  go  to  the  church  anyway.  For  a  score  of 
years  this  church  was  pre-eminent  among  the  country  churches 
of  the  Presbytery.  It  had  the  best  building,  the  largesl  mem- 
bership and  the  most  efficient  auxiliary  organizations— Sunday 
school.  Missionary  Society  and  Young  Peoples  Society  A  lead- 
ing elder  has  frequently  said  in  my  hearing  that  the  church 
began  to  decline  when  in  1888  such  staunch  families  as  those  of 
John  Orr,  W.  B.  Skinner,  A.  B.  Dinkle  and  William  EL  Johnson 
went  out  to  form  the  Mount  Vernon  Church.  But  there  were 
other  causes  that  must  be  reckoned  with — churches  of  other  de- 
nominations were  planted  in  territory  pre-empted  by  this  church; 
the  "golden  age"  of  the  country  church  passed  with  the  grow- 
ing trend  cityward,  and  we  have  not  yet  solved  the  problem  as 
to  how  to  restore  that  age.  The  ministers  who  ha^e  followed 
Mr.  McFarland  are:  William  R.  Fulton.  S.  S..  1860-71;  W.  H. 
Downing,  S.  S.,  1871:  S.  X.  D.  Martin,  S.  S..  1872-3:  W.  i,.  Miller. 
S.  S.,  1873-79;  B.  F.  Powelson,  1879-1882;  George  H.  Williamson. 
1882-85;  G.  T.  Thompson,  1885-86;  A.  M.  Tanner,  S.  S.,  1886-87; 
G.  H.  Williamson,  S.  S..  1887-91 ;  E.  E.  Stringfield,  1892-95 ;  J.  H. 
Gehrette.  P..  1896-97 ;  R.  E.  L.  Jarvis,  S.  S.  and  P.,  1898-1900 ;  J. 
H.  Bright.  S.  S.,  1901-3;  W.  L.  Hackett  (pastor  at  large).  1904-5: 
Rev.  II.  Pinkstdn,  1905-. 

In  addition  to  the  original  elders,  others  who  have  served 
the  church  in  that  capacity  are:  Paul  Orr,  William  Cochrane. 
John  Orr,  John  S.  Harris,  Allen  Dinkle,  W.  B.  Skinner,  John  C. 
Jennings,  George  Orr,  Henry  Orr  and  William  T.  Swearingen. 
This  church  has  observed  the  commendable  practice  of  holding 
services  conducted  by  an  elder  or  some  member  on  those  Sab- 
baths when  their  minister  supplied  other  churches.  It  has  en- 
riched many  other  churches  by  its  stalwart  sons  and  daughters 
who  have  gone  out  from  it. 

CALVARY    (GREENE  COUNTY). 

Technically  the  Calvary  Church  of  Springfield  dates  its  ex 
istence  from  the  28th  of  August.  1860.     More  than  eleven  years 
before  this  the  Mount  Zion  Church  had  sent  out  a  colony  to  form 
tlie   Presbyterian  Church  of  Springtield.     As  the  shadows  of  the 


CALVARY    CHURCH.    SPRINGFIELD 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  137 

coming  conflict  fell  athwart  this  plateau  on  the  borderland  the 
harmony  of  the  young-  church  was  disturbed. 

Rev.  James  A.  Quarles,  D.  D.,  writes:  "I  went  to  Spring- 
field to  do  my  first  work  after  leaving  Princeton  in  the  spring 
of  1859.  It  was  my  purpose  to  make  my  home  and  spend  my  life 
there  should  I  prove  acceptable  to  the  people.  There  was  only 
one  organization  of  Presbyterians  (New  School)  in  the  place, 
but  two  distinct  parties.  One  was  under  the  United  Synod  of 
the  south,  N.  S.,  and  was  ably  served  by  Rev.  Morrison, 
a  veteran.  I  represented  the  Old  School  sentiment.  We  used 
the  same  building  alternately.  There  was  no  ill  feeling,  but 
strong  rivalry.  The  summer  passed  delightfully.  *  *  * 
When  the  fall  came  I  went  home  to  seek  ordination  and  to  marry, 
fully  expecting  to  return.  I  applied  to  my  Presbytery,  Missouri, 
for  ordination  as  an  evangelist.  The  church  could  not  give  me 
a 'call,  as  it  was  divided  in  sympathy  (New  and  Old  School),  and 
the  organization  was  New  School.  My  purpose  was  to  carry  as 
many  as  I  could  into  the  Old  School.  As  a  mere  licentiate  and 
with  no  brother  minister  in  the  country  to  help  me  I  could  not 
administer  the  sacraments,  and  was  badly  handicapped  in  my 
competition  with  a  strong  rival.  The  Presbytery  refused  to  or- 
dain me.  wishing  to  keep  me  within  its  own  bounds.  I  felt  it 
would  be  folly  to  return  and  so  settled  in  Glasgow. ' ' 

But  the  purposes  of  this  section  of  the  church  were  not  to 
be  thwarted.  The  leading  elders  in  the  church  lived  in  the  coun- 
try in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  Bellview  Church.  They  appear 
to  have  been  in  harmony  with  the  minister,  Rev.  Levi  Morrison, 
in  his  position  as  to  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  the  church  in  the 
troublous  times.  This  position  was  highly  unsatisfactory  to  the 
members  living  in  town.  Accordingly,  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1860.  a  new  church  w^as  organized  by  Rev.  H.  M.  Painter  and 
named  the  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield."  The 
new  church  carried  with  it  a  majority  of  the  members,  but  lost 
the  older  elders,  the  name  and  the  succession.  The  history  of 
Greene  County  states  that  all  the  elders  remained  in  the  old 
church,  but  the  records  of  the  Calvary  Church  show  that  Charles 
Sheppard  and  George  C.  See  had  been  ordained  elders  in  the 
Springfield  Church  December  25,  1859.  Thirty-one  members  en- 
tered into  the  new  organization,  all  but  ten  of  whom  had  been 
members  in  the  church  of  Springfield.  Of  the  original  members 
the  name  of  Mrs.  Rhoda  Sheppard  alone  remains  on  the  roll  at 
present.  Charles  Sheppard,  George  C.  See  and  Robert  G.  Aber- 
nathy  were  elected  elders,  the  latter  of  whom,  it  appears,  did 
not  accept.  The  church  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery   of    Lafayette.      Before    the    disruption    the    Springfield 


138  Presbyti-riamsm   in  THE  Ozarks 

Church  had  erected  a  house  of  worship  on  Jefferson  street  be- 
tween East  Walnut  and  Elm  streets. 

This  house  was  dedicated  July  4th,  185b.  Al  that  time  there 
were  only  three  churches  in  the  town  of  2,000  inhabitants.  The 
Presbyterian  church  with  its  high  Gothic,  Pulpit  and  Pews  and 
with  its  steeple,  bell  and  gallery  "was  the  best  church  in  Spring- 
field until  the  Southern  Methodists  built  the  following  year.  Dur- 
ing the  civil  war  this  property  was  sold  for  debt  by  order  of  the 
civil  court.  Ostensibly  the  purchaser  was  Charles  Sheppard.  but 
the  funds  were  provided  by  his  brother  Henry  who  had  a  habit 
of  performing  good  deeds  by  proxy.  Mr.  Sheppard  deeded  the 
property  to  the  Trustees  of  Calvary  Church  and  thus  litigation 
over  the  title  was  avoided. 

Calvary  church  was  scarcely  out  of  "swaddling  bands"  when 
(Sept.  3rd,  or  30th,  1860)  "It  was  moved,  seconded  and  car- 
ried that  a  monthly  concert  of  prayer  be  established  on  the  first 
Sunday  evening  of  each  month  and  a  collection  be  taken  up  for 
Foreign  Missions."  Thus  the  "infant  of  days"  was  "Father  to 
the  man."  The  church  with  this  record  became  the  first  church 
in  Southwest  Missouri  to  support  a  foreign  pastor.  In  its  early 
years  this  church  was  blessed  with  the  ministries  of  men  who 
have  since  ranked  high  in  the  intellectual  and  religious  world — 
James  A.  Quarles,  D.  D.,  now  in  charge  of  the  Department  of 
Philosophy  in  Washington  and  Lee  University;  Frederick  H. 
Wines,  D.  D.,  whose  "bow  still  abides  in  strength;"  J.  Howard 
Nixon,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  most  scholarly  ministers  who  have  labor- 
ed in  the  State,  and  the  original  and  versatile  J.  J.  Marks. 

The  ministeries  of  Mr.  Quarles  were  performed  largely  be- 
fore the  organization  of  the  church,  though  afterwards  he  occas- 
ionally visited  the  field  of  his  first  love.  Moderated  the  session 
and  broke  to  an  admiring  congregation  the  bread  of  life.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization  Frederick  H.  Wines  was  a  young  licen- 
tiate from  Princeton  located  in  Springfield  in  the  Employ  of  the 
American  Sunday  School  Union.  Beginning  with  December, 
1860,  he  served  the  church  as  stated  supply  for  six  months.  In 
the  spring  of  '62  Mr.  Wines  returned  to  Springfield  where  he  was 
appointed  Post  Chaplain.  During  his  incumbency  in  this  posi- 
tion he  ministered  with  marked  ability  to  the  soldiers  and  refu- 
gees and  also  to  the  Calvary  church,  and  it  was  largely  through 
his  intervention  that  this  church  was  reserved  to  the  people  of 
Springfield  as  a  place  of  worship.  When,  after  the  battle  of  Wil- 
son Creek,  every  other  church  in  the  city  was  converted  into 
either  a  hospital  or  a  store  house  for  army  supplies.  "Mr.  Wines' 
Sunday  School,"  as  it  is  remembered,  attracted  marked  attention. 
I  can  not  describe  it  better  than  in  the  language  of  a  lady  who 
was  then  one  of  the  small  uirls  in  the  school: 


W.  R.  GORTON 


J.  L.  CARSON 


HENRY  SHEPPARD 


MRS.  HENRY  SHEPPARD 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  139 

' '  Soon    after   the    dedication    of    the    church     *     *  a    small    Sunday- 

school  was  gathered.  *  *  *  The  Presbyterian  Church  had  about  twenty 
members  at  that  time  and  the  Sunday  school  was  not  much  larger  at  the 
beginning.  The  first  Superintendent  was  Mr.  George  C.  See.  *  *  *  He 
had  a  good  voice  and  always  led  the  music,  and  I  well  remember  with 
what  intense  interest  we  would  watch  the  tuning  fork  which  he  used  to  find 
the  key  in  lieu  of  an  organ  or  piano.  Captain  See  was  for  a  time  teacher 
of  an  old-fashioned  singing  school,  which  did  much  to  improve  the  music 
of  the  church  as  well  as  the  Sunday  school.  The  only  names  I  can  now 
recall  of  those  who  were  the  original  teachers  of  the  school  are  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Horace  Saunders,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Sheppard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
Sheppard.  *  *  *  In  the  summer  of  1860  the  American  Sunday  School 
Union  sent  Mr.  Fred  H.  Wines  as  its  agent  to  Southwest  Missouri.  *  *  * 
Mr.  Wines  took  charge  of  the  little  Presbyterian  Sunday  school  during  his 
stay  in  Springfield  in  1860  anad  again  in  1862,  when  he  returned  as  army 
chaplain  after  having  completed  his  theological  course  at  Princeton  Semi- 
nary. *  *  *  The  old  Presbyterian  Church — set  apart  by  the  United 
States  Government  for  services  for  such  soldiers  and  citizens  as  cared  to 
attend — was  the  only  one  whose  doors  were  open.       *       *  Here  Mr. 

Wines,     *     *  the  only  Christian  minister  in  the  town,  gathered  a  large 

and  unique  Sunday  school  in  the  place  of  the  little  band  aaccustomed  tb 
meet  there.  The  southern  row  of  seats  was  always  filled  with  blue-coated 
soldiers;  the  children  occupied  the  front  pews  of  the  remaining  three- 
quarters  of  the  house,  while  the  space  in  the  rear  and  the  gallery  was 
solidly  packed  with  older  people  of  all  denominations,  with  occasionally  a 
group  of  Arkansas  refugees  in  homely  costumes  of  jeans  and  calico.  Mr. 
Wines  combined  in  his  own  person  the  offices  of  superintendent,  organist, 
chorister,  librarian  and  teacher  of  all  the  departments,  from  the  infant  to 
the  Bible  class.  Owing  to  the  shifting  membership  of  the  school  and  the 
insufficient  supply  of  teachers  he  was  driven  to  adopt  new  methods  and  to 
teach  the  whole  school  as  one  large  class.  Only  one  with  a  genius  for 
teaching  could  have  succeeded  as  he  did  in  interesting  and  instructing  by 
the  same  lesson  scholars  of  such  widely  varying  ages  and  conditions  in  life. 
The  children  of  Springfield  were  further  indebted  to  Mr.  Wines  for  col- 
lecting a  valuable  library  from  his  friends  in  the  East,  to  which  they  had 
access  during  the  week.  Besides  solid  religious  works  and  stories,  this 
library  contained  many  books  of  travels,  science  and  history. 
When  Mr.  Wines  left  Springfield  at  the  close  of  the  war  the  union  Sunday 
school  was  disbanded  and  others  were  organized  in  connection  with  the 
different  denominations. ' ' 

The  old  building-  that  housed  this  unique  constituency  is  still 
standing — having  been  used  as  a  boarding  house,  a  Presbyterian 
female  seminary  under  Miss  Holliday,  later  as  a  Children's  Home 
and  now  as  a  tenement.  In  January,  1865,  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Fulton 
of  Greenfield  was  engaged  to  supply  the  church  one  Sabbath  a 
month.  "He  continued  for  several  months,  riding  on  horse-back 
37  miles,  often  alone  through  a  country  full  of  bush  whackers. 
At  sundry  times  the  church  was  supplied  by  lieintiate  John  Gif- 
fen,  and  by  Revs.  John  McFarland  and  W.  S.  Messmer  and  others. 
The  first  installed  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  James  A.  Pai^e 
who  entered  upon  his  work  here  in  the  fall  of  1866  and  was  in- 
stalled Feb.  14,  1867.  I  think  this  must  have  been  the  second 
installation  of  a  pastor  witnessed  in  a  Presbyterian  church  in 
Southwest  Missouri.     A  directory  of  Ebenezer  church  compiled 


14-0  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX   THE   OZARKS 

in  1899  gives  \V.  R.  Fulton  the  title  of  Stated  Supply  hut  in  his 
historical  address  delivered  at  the  Semi-Centennial  of  that  church 

Dr.  W.  S.  Knight  said: 

"I  entered  the  Presbytery  just  IT  years  ago.  *  *  *  At  that 
time  there  was  but  one  self-sustaining  church  in  the  Presbytery, 

that  of  Calvary,  and  there  had  been  but  four  installed  pastors 
the  first  of  whom  was  Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  pastor  of  this  (Ebe- 
nezer)  church." 

The  growth  of  the  church  up  to  this  time  had  been  largely 
a  negligible  quantity.  Less  than  40  members  were  on  her  roll. 
But  with  the  coming  of  Mr.  Paige  she  "put  on  her  strength"  and 
began  to  "lengthen  her  cords,  and  strengthen  her  stakes."  Sit- 
ting in  the  twilight  of  life,  at  83  years  of  age.  this  veteran  of 
the  cross,  in  a  beautiful  flowing  hand — easily  recognized  as  tin' 
hand  that  recorded  the  minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Southwest 
Missouri  and  Ozark  forty  and  thirty-seven  years  ago — writes: 
"Having  served  as  Post  Chaplain  at  St.  Louis  during  the  war  I 
was  commissioned  by  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  at  the  close  of 
the  war  to  visit  the  unsettled  churches  of  Missouri  and  restore 
their  order  and  peace  as  far  as  practicable,  and  where  also  prac- 
ticable to  procure  for  them  acceptable  ministers  to  serve  them. 
On  this  work  I  visited  Springfield  and  sent  them  a  minister,  who. 
not  satisfying  them,  they  called  me.  Appreciating  the  import- 
ance of  the  place  I  resigned  my  commission  as  a  Home  Missionary 
and  moved  my  family  to  Springfield  in  December.  1866.  Of  its 
hardships  and  discouragements  I  (will)  not  speak.  The  first 
years  were  depressing  lint  in  the  fall  of  '68  there  developed  a 
precious  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  continuing  through  the  winter 
till  late  in  the  following  spring,  resulting  in  adding  to  the  church 
over  a  hundred  members,  all  but  few  on  confession  of  their  faith 
— a  most  promising  band  of  young  people  for  useful  and  helpful 
service.'*  Mr.  Paige  was  the  second  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Southwest  Missouri  and  the  first  of  Ozark.  As  a  de- 
cidedly proficient  and  active  Presbyterian  he  has  been  followed 
by  others  who  have  served  as  pastor  of  this  church — notably 
Revs.  C.  H.  Dunlap.  D.  P.  Putnam.  D.  D.,  Thomas  H.  Cleland.  D. 
D.,  Asa  Leard.  D.  D..  and  the  present  incumbent — all  of  whom 
have  served  the  Presbytery  in  the  Chairmanship  of  Home  Mis- 
sions. 

Under  Dr.  Paige  the  church  passed  the  Ebenezer  church  in 
membership  and  became  the  largest  church  in  the  Presbytery — 
a  position  it  has  held  ever  since  except  for  a  short  time  when  the 
Carthage  church  had  a  larger  roll,  though  the  Calvary  church 
maintained  its  standing  at  the  head  of  the  benevolent  columns 
and  soon  regained  its  position  as  to  roll.  Dr.  Paige  was  followed 
bj'  Dr.  J.  Howard  Nixon,  who  supplied  the  church  for  a  short 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  141 

time.  Then  on  April  1st,  1872,  Rev.  C.  H.  Dnnlap  became  stated 
supply  and  served  the  church  until  November  23,  1879.  Marked 
seasons  of  refreshing  attended  his  ministrations.  After  revival 
services,  in  which  Mr.  Dunlap  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Thomas  Mar- 
shall. D.  D..  the  congregation  became  too  large  for  its  quarters 
and  transferred  its  services  to  the  opera  house,  on  South  street. 
But  as  this  did  not  prove  to  be  a  congenial  place  of  worship  the 
congregation  returned  to  the  little  church,  and  there  remained 
until  the  basement  of  the  present  edifice  was  ready  for  occupancy, 
i.  e.,  June  29th,  1879.  This  house  was  not  completed  until  the 
spring  of  1882,  when,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  P.  Putnam, 
D.  D..  it  was  dedicated  March  19th.  President  Tuttle,  of  Wabash 
College,  preached  the  sermon. 

In  1878  Rev.  Lewis  0.  Thompson,  of  Peoria.  111.,  published  a 
book  on  the  prayer  meeting  which  calls  attention  to  a  covenant 
entered  into  by  members  of  this  church  during  the  ministries 
of  Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap.  As  the  use  of  such  devices  were  not  so 
common  forty  years  ago  as  today,  I  will  make  an  extract  from 
this  book: 

' '  The  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  is  the  leading 
church  in  its  Presbytery,  and  well  known  for  its  labors  of  love  and  self- 
sacrifice;  but  its  members  had  fallen  into  the  habit  so  common  in  all  our 
city  churches  of  absenting  themselves  from  the  evening  services  in  consid- 
erable numbers.  Their  pastor-elect,  in  view  of  the  case,  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  resign.  But  the  church  would  not  permit  this,  and  especially  so 
when  they  learned  the  reason.  They  called  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
and  immediately  applied  a  remedy  for  non-attendance  in  the  shape  of  a 
pledge,  which  was  drawn  up  and  signed.  It  was  handed  to  the  pastor  and 
of  course  the  ground  of  his  action  was  removed.  He  then  prefixed  a  letter 
to  the  pledge  and  had  both  printed  together  on  a  card,  so  that  a  copy 
might  be  sent  to  each  one  of  the  original  signers.  The  following  is  a  literal 
copy  of  that  card: 


142 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


BRETHREN,   BE  NOT  WEARY   IX   WELL  DOING 


Dear 


The  following  pledge  was  handed  to  me  with  your  came 
signed  to  it.  The  good  Lord  is  pleased  with  our  vows  made 
to  Him,  when  he  sees  us  earnestly  trying  to  keep  them. 
Believing  that  a  frequent  reading  of  this  solemn  pledge,  to 
which  you  have  signed  your  name,  will  assist  you  to  carry 
it  out,  I  herewith  semi  you  a  copy  of  it.  Please  read 
Psalm  lxvi:    12;   Ps.  Ixxvi:   11;  Ps.  cxvi:   14. 

Your  Pastor, 

(*.  11.  dunLap. 

PLEDGE. 

"We  now  pledge  ourselves  to  self-examination  and  prayer, 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  may  come  into  our  hearts;  to  seek  His 
enlightening  power,  that  we  may  see  our  duty  as  believers, 
and  to  impart  to  us  such  a  sense  of  our  obligations  to  our 
Lord  as  will  enable  us  to  engage  heartily  in  all  Christian 
work,  by  a  more  regular  attendance  upon  all  the  services 
of  the  sanctuary,  by  the  cultivation  of  the  grace  of  benevo- 
lence, and  by  seeking  such  spirit  of  love  to  all  that  we  shall 
set  a  watch  upon  our  lips  and  hearts,  that  all  evil  speaking 
with  all  bitterness  may  be  put  away  from  us. 


LO!   I  AM  WITH  YOU   ALWAYS.' 


So  far  as  we  know  the  result  of  this  action  has  come  up  to 
their  most  sanguine  expectations.  The  evening'  services  were  at 
once  well  attended,  the  pastor  was  greatly  encouraged.  * 
The  people  were  delighted  by  the  new  tokens  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  with  increased  hopefulness  the 
work  began  to  go  forward  in  their  midst. 

The  ministers  who  have  served  this  church  are  :    John  Cowan, 
pastor-elect,  fall  of  I860;  Rev.  F.  H.  Wines.  S.  S.,  spring  of  1861 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  143 

and  fall  of  1864  in  connection  with  post  chaplaincy ;  Rev..  W.  R. 
Fulton,  S.  S.,  spring-  of  1865;  Rev.  John  Giffen,  fall  of  65;  Rev 
James  A.  Paige,  pastor,  November,  1866,  to  November,  1871 ; 
Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap,  pastor-elect,  April,  '72-November.  '79 ;  Rev. 
J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  S.  S.,  November,  '79,-April,  '81;  Rev.  D.  P. 
Putnam,  D.  D.,  pastor,  April,  81,  to  October,  '87 ;  Rev.  T.  H.  Cle- 
land,  D.  D.,  pastor,  January,  '88,-June,  '94;  Rev.  J.  E.  Sentz, 
pastor,  October,  '84,-May,  '97 ;  Rev.  Asa  Leard,  D.  D.,  pastor, 
September,  97,-November,  1900;  Rev.  Henry  Little,  pastor,  April, 
1901. 

The  church  has  sent  out  three  colonies  to  form  other  churches 
— thirteen  to  form  the  Central  Congregational  Church  in  1883, 
twenty-one  to  form  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  February, 
1885,  and  thirty-one  to  form  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  U.  S. 
Church  in  July  of  the  same  year. 

For  many  years  the  church  has  maintained  an  enviable  rec- 
ord for  benevolence.  As  far  back  as  1874,  with  a  membership 
of  185,  it  reported  $121.15  for  home  missions  and  $112.90  for 
foreign  missions.  For  a  number  of  years  it  has  maintained  the 
mission  known  as  Fairmount  Chapel.  To  this,  under  the  pas- 
torate of  the  lamented  Dr.  Leard,  was  added  the  mission  which 
since  his  death  has  borne  his  name.  Then,  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  Henry  Little,  the  church  assumed  the  support  of  Rev. 
Charles  Magill  as  its  missionary  pastor  in  the  Philippines.  Mrs. 
Henry  Sheppard,  the  sole  surviving  member  of  the  original  or- 
ganization, whose  name  is  still  on  the  roll,  has  been  a  tower  of 
strength  to  the  church.  Her  husband  was  its  chief  financial  sup- 
port in  the  early  years  of  the  church.  Their  hospitable  home 
held  "the  prophet's  chamber"  and  frequently  housed  "the  whole 
Presbytery."  Since  his  death  her  benefactions  have  blessed 
many  worthy  causes  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  church.  The  ses- 
sion has  had  but  two  clerks.  At  the  death  of  Charles  Sheppard 
in  1886  he  was  succeeded  in  that  position  by  the  present  clerk, 
William  R.  Gorton.  A  few  months  before  the  organization  of 
the  Ozark  Presbytery  in  1870  Mr.  Gorton  was  elected  to  the  elder- 
ship— a  position  he  retains  to  this  day.  Probably  no  other  man 
has  served  the  Presbytery  as  temporary  clerk  as  frequently  as 
W.  R.  Gorton. 

BOLIVAR   (POLK  COUNTY). 

In  the  list  of  the  churches  of  Osage  Presbytery  furnished 
Dr.  Timothy  Hill  by  Rev.  Levi  Morrison  in  1861  is  this  entry: 

"7,  Bolivar,  never  existed,  I  think." 

In  early  days  Bolivar  seems  to  have  been  a  rendezvous  for 
both  New  School  and  Old  School  ministers.     Some  of  them  lived 


144  Prksbyteriamsm   in*  the  O/arks 

here,  and  it  seems  probable  th.it  considerable  preaching  was  done 
prior  to  an  organization.  Near  by  \v;is  the  Hermon  Church,  and 
Bolivar  could  not  have  been  far  off  of  the  line  of  travel  between 
the  flourishing  churches  of  North  Prairie,  in  Hickory  County, 
and  Mount  Zion,  in  Greene  County.  At  the  organization  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  June,  1865.  Bolivar  is  found  on 
the  roll  According  to  the  ministers  of  Lafayette  Presbytery,  it 
was  organized  by  Rev.  D.  A.  Murdock,  and  was  enrolled  April 
13,  1861,  but  this  may  have  been  a  resuscitation  of  the  New 
School  work  at  the  same  place.  When  the  Presbytery  of  South- 
west Missouri  was  organized  this  church  was  practically  extinct. 
The  records  of  Ozark  Presbytery  indicate  that  it  was  subse- 
quently organized  in  1871,  and  again  it  was  enrolled  September 
20,  1883.  This  entry  states  that  it  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  J. 
Marks,  D.  D.,  Presbyterian  missionary.  Since  this  date  the 
church  has  had  a  continuous  existence  with  the  usual  vicissitudes 
of  a  home  mission  church,  accentuated  by  the  fact  that  its  mem- 
bers have  cherished  intellectual  ideals  that  have  called  for  pas- 
tors of  more  ability  than  they  have  been  able  to  secure  regularly. 
Hence  the  growth  of  the  church  has  been  retarded  by  frequent 
and  protracted  vacancies  in  the  pulpit.  Elders  Abbe.  Drake. 
Lyman  and  White  have  been  familiar  figures  on  the  floor  of 
Presbytery.  Of  these  White  alone  remains.  Within  a  few  years 
the  membership  has  been  sadly  depleted  by  the  death  or  removal 
of  a  number  of  those  regarded  as  the  backbone  of  the  church. 
If  the  means  of  grace  had  been  sustained  regularly  in  this  church 
I  doubt  not  that  today  Bolivar  would  be  one  of  the  self-sustain- 
ing churches  in  the  Presbytery,  giving  its  pastor  an  adequate 
support  for  full  time.  The  church  has  a  commodious  house  of 
worship  and  a  good  parsonagae. 

(BRECKENRIDGE). 

(NORTH  SPRING  RIVER)    (JASPER  COUNTY). 

In  the  roll  of  churches  presented  to  the  Presbytery  of  South- 
west Missouri  September  30.  1865.  these  names  occur.  In  the 
minutes  of  September  13,  1867,  is  this  entry:  "Breckenridge 
Church  being  reported  extinct,  was  on  motion  ordered  to  be 
stricken  from  the  roll."  I  find  no  further  mention  of  North 
Spring  River.  It  either  disappeared  or  else,  as  is  often  the  case. 
appears  by  another  name.  It  was  organized  by  Rev.  John  McFar- 
land.  and  was  enrolled  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lafayette  April 
13,  1861. 


Presbyterjanism  in  the  Ozarks  145 

CARTHAGE    (JASPER  COUNTY). 

Prior  to  the  Civil  War  Revs.  John  McFarland  and  W.  R. 
Fulton  did  considerable  pioneer  work  in  Jasper  County.  But 
while  permanent  centers  of  Presbyterian  activities  were  estab- 
lished in  Dade,  Lawrence  and  Greene  counties,  if  any  organiza- 
tions were  effected  in  Jasper,  with  the  exception  of  North  Spring 
River,  they  are  so  deeply  buried  in  oblivion  that  I  have  not  dis- 
covered their  remains. 

Shortly  after  the  Civil  War  the  church  seized  a  strategic 
point  in  the  county  seat  and  from  this  center  radiated  in  nearly 
all  directions.  The  country  districts  in  this  county  were  destined 
to  be  the  field  of  most  effective  operations  during  the  seventies, 
whilst  the  infant  organizations  planted  in  the  embryo  mining 
centers  during  this  same  decade  were  destined  to  attain  wealth, 
power  and  influence  a  quarter  of  a  century  later.  Meanwhile 
the  center  had  by  no  means  yielded  to  the  circumference  in  these 
directions.  The  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carthage  was  or- 
ganized August  4th,  1867.  For  the  next  eleven  years  the  Presby- 
tery devoted  unusual  attention  to  the  planting  and  establishing 
its  work  in  Jasper  County.  Ten  churches  were  organized,  in- 
cluding the  Carthage  Church,  and  five  of  these  erected  houses 
of  worship.  To  aid  in  the  erection  of  these  churches  the  Board 
of  Church  Erection  spent  $3,500,  and  the  Home  Board  probably 
spent  as  much  as  $1,200.  Not  one  of  these  churches  attained  self- 
support  during  this  period.  The  Carthage  Church  was  recom- 
mended for  $400  home  mission  aid  as  late  as  1877,  and  was  rec- 
ommended again  in  1879,  the  amount  not  stated.  Thus  of  all 
parts  of  the  Presbytery  may  it  be  said:  "Freely  ye  have  re- 
ceived," and  it  is  certainly  doing  violence  to  the  spirit  of  the  Mas- 
ter to  omit  in  practice  the  rest  of  his  words,  "Freely  give."  This 
church  has  had  one  asset  that  makes  it  unique  among  the  churches 
of  Southwest  Missouri  Presbyterianism.  In  the  days  of  my 
youth  and  for  a  number  of  years  the  news  columns  of  the  re- 
ligious papers  teemed  with  items  of  interest  from  the  Carthage 
Church — always  signed  "Sadie  P.  Kellogg."  Whether  the  said 
Sadie  was  blushing  maiden,  matured  maid  or  silvered  matron  I 
never  knew,  but  I  have  often  thought  that  a  church  with  such 
an  efficient  reporter  in  its  laity  is  certainly  blessed.  And  if  this 
item  suggests  a  new  sphere  of  usefulness  to  some  dominant 
"Sadie"  in  my  own  or  other  churches  it  will  have  answered  its 
purpose. 

Mr.  D.  M.  Knight,  an  elder  in  the  church  and  the  son  of  Rev. 
W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D.,  furnished  the  following  sketch: 

(N.  B. — This  is  the  completest  sketch  and  practically  the  only 
one  I  have  received  fullv  written  out  from   anv  church   in   the 


14''  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX   THE   OZARKS 

Presbytery,  and  I  insert  it  as  ii  w;is  written,  though  it  carries  ihe 
history  to  a  later  date  than  tliat  of  the  other  churches.) 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH,   CARTHAGE,   MO. 

The  history  of  Carthage  and  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
are  so  closely  related  that  a  little  regarding  the  early  lays  of  the 
town  must  necessarily  interest  the  reader. 

The  site  of  Carthage,  the  county  seat  of  Jasper  County,  wm 
chosen  by  two  commissioners.  Abel  Landers  and  George  Barker, 
who  were  appointed  by  the  County  Court  in  1842  for  that  pur- 
pose. A  plat  of  the  city  was  furnished  to  the  court  on  May  15th 
of  that  year. 

The  population  was  estimated  at  from  400  to  500  inhabitants 
in  1861.  at  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  when  the 
region  became  the  scene  of  active  conflict,  the  Battle  of  Carthage 
being  fought  July  5th,  1861.  After  the  fight  the  few  citizens 
who  remained  were  ordered  to  leave  the  town,  some  going  to  Fort 
Scott,  Kan.,  others  to  Springfield  and  elsewhere.  The  place,  de- 
serted, became  at  different  times  a  rendezvous  for  the  armies  of 
both  sides,  and  during  the  years  of  1862  and  1863  almost  every 
building  in  the  town  was  reduced  to  ruins,  including  residences, 
store  buildings,  the  court  house,  jail  and  academy.  Only  the 
stone  fireplaces  and  chimneys,  standing  here  and  there,  marked 
the  places  were  many  of  the  houses  had  stood. 

As  soon  as  peace  was  restored,  however,  people  again  began 
coming  to  settle  in  Carthage,  attracted  by  the  wonderful  beauty 
of  the  country,  its  resources  and  the  fine  natural  location  for  tha 
town.  At  that  time  could  be  seen  a  land  which  wTas  generally  a 
high  rolling  prairie,  crossed  by  small  rivers;  fine  orchards  and 
grazing  lands  met  great  stretches  of  forests.  The  railroads  ex- 
tended as  far  as  Springfield  on  the  east.  Sedalia  on  the  north  and 
Fort  Scott  on  the  west.  Everything  was  in  readiness  to  become 
permanently  settled  and  develop  rapidly  and  extensively,  as  hati 
been  shown  to  have  been  inevitable.  Men  who  had  passed  over 
the  region  during  the  war  were  so  attracted  to  it  that  they  soon 
returned  to  make  it  their  home,  and  people  were  drawn  to  it 
from  almost  every  part  of  the  country. 

Two  pioneer  Presbyterian  ministers.  Rev.  John  McFarland 
and  Rev.  William  R.  Pulton,  looked  after  the  interests  of  Pres- 
byterianism  in  this  part  of  Missouri.  And  with  their  aid.  on 
August  4,  1867,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carthage  was 
organized  in  what  was  known  as  Dunlap's  Hall,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  public  square. 

Eleven  members  constituted  the  church,  as  follows:  Almon 
Foster  and  Mrs.  Sarah  R.  Foster,  of  Crown   Point.  Ind. ;  Benja- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  147 

min  Beard  and  Mrs.  M.  0.  Beard,  from  Franklin,  Iowa;  Mrs 
Sarah  Lamb,  from  Thornton,  Ind. ;  Alfred  C.  Baldwin  and  Mrs. 
Isabel  Mitchell,  from  Hebron,  Ind.:  W.  B.  List,  from  Illinois; 
Mrs.  L.  L.  Dunlap,  from  Texas;  W.  P.  Davis  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Davis,  from  Fort  Scott,  Kan. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Beard,  a  certified  elder,  was  elected  and  in- 
stalled as  ruling-  elder.  The  young  church  held  their  services  in 
various  halls  in  the  city  for  the  first  three  years.  After  leaving 
Dunlap 's  Hall,  in  which  the  church  was  organized,  the  congre- 
gation worshiped  in  a  building  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
square.  In  the  meantime  active  measures  were  taken  to  erect  a 
permanent  house  of  worship  on  two  well  located  lots  on  Grant 
street,  three  blocks  south  of  the  public  square.  From  January, 
1870,  to  November  services  were  held  in  Regan's  Hall,  from 
which  they  were  transferred  to  the  new  church  building,  then 
completed  and  costing  in  the  aggregate,  for  lots  and  building, 
$6,500. 

By  invitation  of  the  church  Rev.  John  W.  Pinkerton  entered 
on  his  labors  as  stated  supply  for  one-half  of  his  time  on  the  last 
Sabbath  of  September,  1867.  He  was  a  man  concerning  whom 
the  uniform  testimony  is  given  that  he  was  loved  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  ministry  extended  over  a  period  of 
nearly  five  years,  up  to  the  time  of  his  resignation,  August  15. 
1872.  During  his  pastorate  he  had  as  his  assistants  in  the  ses- 
sion Messrs.  Benjamin  Beard,  Dr.  A.  C.  Schell,  Richard  S.  Stuckey, 
Richard  Bulgin,  George  W.  Lemley  and  J.  D.  Young.  There  were 
connected  with  the  church  in  all  during  his  ministry  ninety- 
eight  members,  eighty  by  letter  and  eighteen  by  examination. 
From  the  pastorate  of  this  church  Mr.  Pinkerton  went  to  Iola, 
Kan.,  where  he  died  February  12,  1875,  aged  forty-two. 

Rev.  Hiram  Hill  succeeded  him  as  stated  supply  October  27, 
1872.  He  labored  faithfully  for  nearly  a  year,  but  owing  to  con- 
tinued ill  health  was  compelled  to  relinquish  his  work  and  sick 
the  climate  of  California,  where  he  was  able  to  resume  the  min- 
istry. During  his  ministry  eleven  were  received  by  letter  and 
one  on  examination. 

Rev.  0.  T.  Rice,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  began  his  ministry 
with  the  church  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  October,  1873,  and  per- 
formed it  with  earnestness  and  ability.  His  labors  continued 
until  May  11,  1875,  when,  on  account  of  diseased  eyes,  he  "elt 
compelled  to  resign.  During  his  ministry  there  were  installed 
into  office  of  the  eldership  Messrs.  0.  S.  Pitcher,  William  McMil- 
lan, C.  Rivers  and  J.  S.  McLees.  There  were  received  into  the 
membership  of  the  church  fourteen  by  letter  and  four  on  exami- 
nation, leaving,  after  removals  and  deaths,  a  total  membership  of 
sixty-six. 


148  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

By  invitation  of  the  church.  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D.,  then 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Augusta,  111.,  visited  the 
church  May  11,  1875,  and  after  spending  two  Sabbaths  with 
them  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  on  which  he  entered  July  18th 
following.  He  found,  besides  about  seventy  enrolled  members, 
quite  a  company  of  newcomers,  young  families  who  were  loyal 
Presbyterians  and  earnest  workers.  From  time  to  time  there 
were  valuable  additions  to  the  church  and  a  goodly  number  of 
young  people  became  enthusiastic  helpers  and  a  source  of  in- 
spiration to  the  pastor.  As  in  most  new  churches,  there  remained 
a  debt  on  the  building,  but  by  October,  1879,  the  whole  amount, 
something  over  $3,000,  was  paid,  and  the  notes  were  burned  with 
great  rejoicing.  As  the  membership  was  small,  made  up  largely 
of  new  people,  and  money  not  plentiful,  the  spirit  of  devotion 
and  systematic  work  of  the  whole  congregation  was  evident  in 
the  accomplishment  of  this  step  forward.  It  was  decided  that 
self-support  must  come  next.  In  the  spring  of  1878  the  help  of 
the  Home  Mission  Board  was  relinquished.  Mr.  Knight  was  then 
installed  pastor  and  the  church  felt  it  had  taken  on  new  -ife.  In 
the  accomplishment  of  these  things  all  honor  must  be  given  to 
Col.  Pitcher  and  his  wife,  who  gave  liberally,  and  were  always 
a  source  of  strength  and  help.  Col.  Pitcher  as  a  member  of  the 
session  was  wise  and  judicious  in  helping  to  guide  its  affairs  in 
this  formative  period.  So,  also,  was  William  McMillan,  who 
continued  to  serve  in  the  eldership  for  over  fifteen  years. 

Meantime  the  church  was  realizing  its  duty  in  helping  to 
spread  the  gospel  in  the  world.  While  yet  a  mission  church  a 
Woman's  Missionary  Society  had  been  formed  and  some  <>f  the 
members  of  the  church  had  adopted  tithing.  Steady  growth  aud 
harmony  characterized  these  years.  Many  were  the  seasons  of 
refreshing  which  blessed  the  church,  often  in  union  services  \,Tith 
sister  churches  of  the  community.  The  Sabbath  school  was  large 
and  well  organized,  the  Young  People's,  Endeavor  Societies  and 
Mission  Bands  were  well  sustained.  Many  missionaries  from  the 
foreign  field  came  bringing  information  regarding  the  work  of 
the  kingdom  and  inspiring  the  workers  to  "attempt  greater 
things  for  God." 

After  eighteen  years  of  earnest  work,  Dr.  Knight  was  called 
to  the  Presidency  of  Lindenwood  College,  St.  Charles,  and  on 
June  16,  1893,  a  congregational  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose 
of  asking  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  which  had 
been  blessed  to  pastor  and  people,  and  during  which  the  mem- 
bership had  grown  from  seventy  to  three  hundred  and  fifty,  well 
organized  and  doing  good  work. 

In  the  early  years  of  his  pastorate  Dr.  Knight  had  gathered 
about  him  a  few  men  who  were  interested  and  planned  for  the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  149 

starting  of  an  educational  institution — Carthage  Collegiate  In- 
stitute. For  this  institution  Dr.  Knight  worked  through  all  the 
rest  of  his  life,  and  many  of  the  members  of  the  church  gave 
largely  to  it.  In  1900  Dr.  Knight  returned  to  Carthage  and  un- 
dertook to  place  Carthage  Collegiate  Institue  upon  a  good  basis, 
and  as  its  President  he  labored  hard  against  heavy  obstacles.  He 
succeeded  in  freeing  it  from  debt,  improving  the  property  and 
raising  the  standard  of  its  work.  But  the  strain  was  too  great 
and  he  was  called  from  his  labors  to  his  heavenly  home  Novem- 
ber 15,  1905.  His  death  was  keenly  felt,  not  only  by  the  church, 
but  by  the  entire  community,  for  whose  interests  the  best  years  of 
his  life  had  been  given,  and  which  he  loved. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Hemmingway,  of  Tipton,  Iowa,  was  invited  to 
supply  the  church  for  six  months  by  an  action  of  the  session  on 
September  17,  1893,  and  on  March  28,  1894,  the  congregation 
extended  to  him  a  unanimous  call  to  the  pastorate,  which  he  ac- 
cepted. His  pastorate  was  one  of  continued  helpfulness  and 
blessing  to  the  people.  The  missionary  and  other  general  inter- 
ests of  the  church  were  well  sustained,  and  many  additions  were 
made  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  Dr.  Hemmingway  de- 
voted himself  closely  to  the  welfare  of  his  people,  and  particu- 
larly good  results  were  evidenced  in  connection  with  the  Oak 
Grove  Chapel,  in  the  west  part  of  Carthage,  where  Sunday  school 
and  midweek  services  had  been  conducted,  under  the  care  of  the 
church,  since  about  1880.  Dr.  Hemmingway  resigned  January 
31,  1897,  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Bloomsburg,  Pa. 

On  March  10,  1897,  Rev.  Harry  Omar  Scott,  D.  D.,  of  Hast- 
ings, Neb.,  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  began  his  work  with 
the  celebration  of  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  the  church.  This  was  a  delightful  occasion.  During  Dr. 
Scott's  ministry,  on  July  12,  1903,  at  12  m.,  what  was  known  as 
the  Westmister  Presbyterian  Church  was  consolidated  with  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  Scott  devoted  himself  untiringly 
to  the  strengthening  of  the  work  of  the  church  and  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  The  budget  plan  was  adopted  for  the 
benevolences  of  the  church,  and  by  systematic  work  the  offerings 
to  the  boards  were  greatly  increased  on  the  part  of  the  general 
membership.  There  were  a  large  number  of  additions  to  the 
church  and  the  roll  was  much  increased.  On  May  31,  1905,  Dr. 
Scott  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Guthrie,  Okla. 

Rev.  Huston  Taylor,  of  Waterville,  N.  Y.,  succeeded  Dr. 
Scott,  accepting  the  call  of  the  congregation,  voted  at  its  meet- 
ing July  30,  1905,  and  began  his  work  on  the  first  Sabbath  of 
September.     The  membership  at  this  time  numbered  over  500. 


1 50  Presbyterianism   IN  the  O/ARKS 

The  membership  of  the  session  was  increased  to  twelve  members 
and  the  work  of  tin'  church  was  bo  systematized  thai  the  benevo- 
lences were  greatly  enlarged.  Besides  increased  gifts  to  mis- 
sionary work  from  the  membership  ;ii  Large,  the  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society,  the  Mary  Morrison  Moore  Missionary  Society, 
a  band  of  the  younger  women,  which  look  its  name  from  its  firsl 
leader  and  founder,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Moore  ;  the  Deo  Data  Band,  in  which 
the  children  had  been  trained  in  missionary  work  for  nearly 
twenty-live  years,  and  the  Endeavor  Society  were  all  doing  good 
work.  An  effort  was  made  to  begin  a  new  building  such  as  the 
congregation  desired,  and  by  action  on  November  28,  1906,  the 
trustees  were  instructed  to  purchase  what  was  known  as  the 
Bronsill  property,  on  Main  and  Chestnut  streets,  for  the  location 
of  the  new  church.  The  effort  to  start  the  building  was  not  suc- 
cessful, and  as  the  old  First  Church  building  was  no  longer  fit  for 
use,  the  congregation  changed  its  place  of  worship  to  the  former 
Westminster  property  in  January,  1908.  Mr.  Taylor  resigned 
from  the  pastorate  on  December  13,  1908,  to  accept  the  call  of  the 
Kings  Highway  Presbyterian  Church  of  St.  Louis,  to  become 
their  supply. 

Rev.  Samuel  R.  Gordon,  D.  D.,  of  Henry  Kendall  College, 
was  secured  as  regular  supply  of  the  church  until  a  pastor  should 
be  called,  and  won  the  love  and  esteem  of  the  people,  bringing 
great  blessing  through  his  preaching  of  the  Word. 

Rev.  James  D.  McCaughtry,  Ph.  D.,  of  Streator,  111.,  was  ten- 
dered a  call  to  the  pastorate  on  March  31,  1909,  and  having  ac- 
cepted, was  installed  June  8th.  Under  his  leadership  the  church 
is  moving  forward,  strengthened  in  all  of  its  departments,  grow- 
ing in  membership  and  pressing  on  to  do  its  full  share  of  the 
Master's  work  in  His  kingdom  on  earth. 

NEOSHO   (NEWTON  COUNTY). 

Nestled  among  the  foothills  of  the  Ozarks  and  near  the  gate- 
way from  imperial  Missouri  to  the  land  for  many  years  known 
as  Indian  Territory  is  the  quaint  and  beautiful  little  city  of 
Neosho.  Here  in  bygone  days  the  Southern  Confederacy  estab- 
lished its  last  seat  of  government  for  the  State  of  Missouri.  Oft- 
times  those  old  hills  reverberated  with  the  sound  of  artillery. 
The  stains  of  carnage  have  washed  away,  but  the  eternal  hills 
still  feed  the  mammoth  spring  which  unceasingly  sends  out  a  vast 
volume  of  purest  water,  enough  to  satisfy  the  cattle  upon  a  thou- 
sand hills. 

Shortly  after  the  gentler  days  of  peace  had  dawned  a  little 
company  of  those  who  held  to  the  Presbyterian  faith  and  order 
were  wont  to  assemble  for  the  worship  of  God  in  that  old  court 


I 


— ——  I 


MT.    ZION    CHURCH,    1845 


NEOSPIO    CHURCH 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  151 

house  where  but  a  few  years  ago  were  discussed  the  perplexing 
problems  of  state.  And  this  faithful  band  continued  to  worship 
in  court  house  and  Masonic  Hall  until  they  were  able  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship. 

On  the  29th  day  of  October,  1867,  Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton  and 
John  McFarland  organized  seven  women  and  two  men  into  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Neosho.  The  following  April  the  church 
was  enrolled  by  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri. 

A  historian  of  the  church,  writing  some  twenty-nine  years 
after  its  organization,  said:  "There  have  been  349  members. 
As  there  were  seven  ladies  to  two  men  in  the  beginning,  so  the 
record  has  been  pretty  generally  maintained." 

The  two  men — J.  H.  Miller  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Schell — were  made 
ruling  elders.  Mr.  Miller  was  subsequently  recommended  by 
Presbytery  to  the  Foreign  Board  as  a  suitable  man  for  a  mission- 
ary to  the  Indians,  and  after  a  short  time  Dr.  Schell  was  induced 
by  Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton  to  move  to  Carthage  to  help  to  keep 
alive  the  struggling  church  in  that  place.  As  the  Doctor  prac- 
ticed dentistry  in  the  two  towns  and  the  need  of  an  efficient 
elder  seemed  to  be  greater  in  Carthage  than  in  Neosho,  he  lis- 
tened to  this  call  of  the  church  and  took  up  residence  in  Carthage. 
To  such  straits  were  our  churches  reduced  forty  years  ago !  But 
the  good  elder  returned  to  Neosho,  went  away  again,  and  re- 
turned to  remain  until  this  day.  For  nearly  two  years  Rev.  J. 
W.  Pinkerton  rode  across  the  country  from  Carthage  and 
preached  for  the  Neosho  Church  once  a  month.  He  was  followed 
by  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown,  under  whose  ministry  the  first  house  of 
worship  was  erected  and  dedicated  November,  1871.  Rev.  Dr. 
Worth  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  For  twenty-five  years 
the  congregation  continued  to  worship  in  this  building,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  31st  of  January,  1897,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire 
(originated  from  a  defective  flue).  The  first  installed  pastor  of 
the  church  was  Rev.  B.  F.  Powelson,  whose  pastorate  embraced 
the  brief  period  of  less  than  two  years.  The  church  was  then 
ministered  to  in  turn  by  two  of  her  own  sons  who  were  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery — Squire  Glasscock  and  D.  L.  Lander.  Mr. 
Lander  remained  with  the  church  for  four  years.  From  a  his- 
torical sketch  of  the  church  prepared  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Ely  I  glean : 
"On  February  18,  1880,  the  Rev.  J.  N.  Young  was  called  to  fill 
the  pulpit.  March  12th,  1882,  Rev.  F.  M.  Baldwin  entered  upon 
his  labors  with  the  church,  and  upon  January  28,  1883,  a  call  was 
extended  for  the  services  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Hunter.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  Rev.  T.  R.  Easterday  took  charge  of  the  church  and  re- 
mained on  the  field  until  October  1,  1888,  when  the  present  in- 
cumbent (Mr.  Ely)  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  field.  During 
this  period  of  twenly  years  some  four  students  labored  upon  the 


i52  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

field   during  their  summer  vacations."     Mr.    Easterday  secured 
.-in  addition  to  the  church  of  ;i  lecture  room  and  study,  and  he 

;iikI  his  wife  placed  in  the  church  a  fine  pipe  organ,  which  \v;is 
destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1897. 

I>ui  every  mention  of  Neosho  brings  to  the  mind's  eye  the  tall 

form  of  that  manly  man  and  stalwart  pioneer  of  Jesus  Christ — 
Rev.  K.  \V.  Ely.  As  a  seminary  studenl  .Mr.  Ely  spent  his  Bum- 
mer vacations  of  1883  and  1884  preaching  to  the  churches  of 
Neosho,  Granby  and  Locust  Grove  (Westminster).  His  labors 
were  abundantly  blest  and  an  urgent  invitation  was  extended 
him  to  return  to  the  church  upon  his  graduation  the  next  spring. 
But  the  call  of  the  frontier  was  stronger  and  Mr.  YAy  went  to 
North  Dakota.  Neosho  was  not  to  be  thwarted  in  her  designs 
upon  his  services.  Repeated  and  importunate  calls  finally 
brought  him  hack  to  the  scene  of  his  student  labors  in  October, 
1888.  By  this  time  the  work  at  Granby  was  abandoned  and  he 
preached  twice  every  Sabbath  to  the  Neosho  Church,  which  con- 
sisted of  about  forty  members.  In  addition  to  this,  the  third  Sab- 
hath  of  each  month  he  preached  at  Locust  Grove.  In  1892  the 
Neosho  session  allowed  their  pastor  two  Sabbath  evenings  a 
month  for  six  months  of  the  year  for  the  wrork  at  Seneca.  For 
eleven  years  this  was  kept  up.  It  involved  a  drive  of  seventeen 
miles,  yet  the  pastor  never  missed  his  appointment  more  than 
two  times  in  eleven  years.  Mr.  Ely  gave  to  Neosho  fifteen  years 
and  two  months'  service — fourteen  years  as  installed  pastor.  In 
this  time  he  missed  only  one  Sunday  on  account  of  inability,  re- 
ceived 147  on  profession  and  91  by  letter.  That  the  church  might 
become  self-supporting  he  took  it  off  the  Board  the  first  year  and 
for  several  years  lived  on  a  salary  of  $500.  In  1889  the  church 
erected  a  parsonage.  Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  said  Mr.  Ely 
erected  it,  for  he  it  wras  who  hauled  lumber  from  six  miles  in  the 
country  and  whose  own  hands  helped  to  put  it  together,  and  for 
two  years  he  paid  the  monthly  dues  to  the  building  and  loan  fund, 
at  which  time  the  Ladies'  Aid  came  to  his  relief. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1897.  the  church  and  the  parsonage 
that  represented  so  many  sacrifices  went  up  in  smoke  and  flame. 
This  was  Saturday  morning.  The  pastor's  sermons  for  the  fol- 
lowing day  were  either  burned  or  lost.  But.  nothing  daunted, 
pastor  and  people  went  to  the  Methodist  Church,  on  Spring  street, 
and  held  services.  The  congregation  figured  on  a  frame  building 
to  take  the  place  of  the  one  destroyed.  The  pastor  said.  'Let  Us 
build  of  stone.'  and  stone  it  was.  The  present  beautiful  struc- 
ture, with  an  auditorium  to  seat  300  and  a  lecture  room  of  nearly 
200  more,  was  dedicated  February  18,  1898.  The  following  sum- 
mer the   parsonage   was   rebuilt   and   enlarged.      Completed   and 


Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks  153 

paid  for,  this  gave  to  Neosho  one  of  the  best  church  plants  in  the 
Presbytery  at  that  time. 

For  fifteen  years  the  biography  of  Mr.  Ely  and  the  history 
of  the  Neosho  Church  are  so  interwoven  that  they  are  inseparable 
and  when  the  separation  conies  there  must  be  many  broken 
threads.  Mr.  Ely  accepted  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
St.  Charles  and  the  pastoral  relation  with  the  Neosho  Church 
was  dissolved  October  23.  1903.  Ostensibly  he  went  to  his  new 
field  because  of  the  better  educational  advantages  offered  his 
growing  family.  An  indomitable  worker  like  Mr.  Ely  estab- 
lishes precedents  and  acumulates  duties  in  a  long  pastorate  that 
become  all  but  too  heavy  to  be  bourne,  and  I  fancy  that  the  only 
relief  in  sight  was  that  which  came  through  removal.  But  the 
memories  are  still  tender  in  the  church  where  he  united  in  mar- 
riage 128  couples  and  ministered  at  144  funerals.  Kev.  H.  M. 
Gilbert,  B.  L.  Stewart  and  J.  W.  Hudiburg  have  since  ministered 
to  this  church.  On  the  16th  of  April,  1907,  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  convened  in  this  church  for  its  last  session.  On  the  second 
day  of  this  session  Presbytery  received  the  Neosho  Church,  for- 
merly Cumberland  Presbyterian,  and  united  the  two  churches 
under  the  name  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Neosho.  That 
evening  Rev.  J.  W.  Hudiburg  was  installed  pastor  of  the  United 
Church.  Rev.  B.  M.  Shive.  D.  D..  preached  the  sermon.  The 
Moderator,  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  presided  and  propounded  the 
constitutional  questions.  Rev.  B.  P.  Fullerton,  D.  D.,  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  D.  B.  Whimster  the  charge  to 
the  people.     The  United  Church  reported  a  membership  of  208. 

AVILLA— WHITE  OAK  (JASPER  COUNTY). 

On  the  3rd  of  April,  1868,  Revs.  J.  W.  Pinkerton  and  W.  R. 
Fulton  were  appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Avilla  "if  the  way 
be  clear."  The  entry  on  the  minutes  of  September  4,  1868,  is  as 
follows:  "Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton,  from  committee  appointed  at  a 
previous  meeting  to  organize  a  church  at  Avilla,  reported  the 
duty  performed  and  recommended  that  the  church  be  enrolled. 
The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted  and  the  committee  dis- 
charged." On  the  25th  of  April,  1874,  the  name  and  location 
were  both  changed.  Henceforth  the  church  was  called  White 
Oak.  The  church  had  a  struggling  career  and  worshipped  in  a 
school  house  for  eight  or  ten  years.  While  Rev.  G.  H.  William- 
son was  serving  the  Greenfield  Church  (1882-85)  he  arranged  to 
give  a  week  night  service  to  White  Oak.  One  Thursday  in  Feb- 
ruary he  drove  from  Greenfield  in  a  drizzling  rain,  reached  Red 
Oak  after  dark,  went  out  by  a  log  and  gathered  leaves  and  sticks 
to  start  a  fire  in  the  school  house.     The  lighted  candles  attracted 


154  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

an  audience  of  two  girls  and  three  dogs!  Mr.  Williamson  preached 
his  sermon  nevertheless.  Text,  "Thou  hast  kept  the  best  wine 
until  now."  The  news  of  this  service  spread  rapidly.  An  an- 
nouncement was  left  for  another  service  two  weeks  hence.  The 
people  said  if  Williamson  could  drive  from  Greenfield  they  could 
go  from  their  homes.  At  the  next  appointment  "the  woods  were 
full"  of  people,  and  by  the  fifth  Sunday  in  June  or  July  a  church 
was  dedicated  out  on  the  prairie  free  of  debt. 

(GRANBY)    (NEWTON  COUNTY). 

The  day  after  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  organize 
a  church  at  Avilla  Revs.  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  W.  R.  Pulton  and 
James  A.  Paige  were  appointed  to  organize  at  Granby.  Previous 
to  this  September  30,  1865,  the  committee  appointed  to  present 
a  roll  of  the  churches  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  South- 
west Missouri  included  Granby  in  the  list.  When  or  by  whom 
it  had  been  organized,  or  whether  it  was  simply  a  preaching  sta- 
tion, deponent  sayeth  not.  The  committee  alluded  to  above  evi- 
dently organized  the  church,  for  on  September  4.  1868.  is  this 
entry  in  the  minutes  of  Presbytery:  "The  church  at  Granby  was 
recommended  to  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  for  an  appro- 
priation of  $100  to  remove  debt  remaining  on  their  house  of  wor- 
ship." 

For  some  time  the  church  was  grouped  with  Neosho,  but  it 
never  flourished.  September  29.  1876:  "Rev.  D.  L.  Lander  re- 
ported the  organization  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Granby  April  16th,  1876,  consisting  of  seven  members,  with  one 
elder."  Subsequently  the  church  was  disbanded  and  the  prop- 
erty sold. 

URBANA— BUFFALO  (DALLAS  COUNTY). 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1868,  Rev.  John  McFarland  was 
appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Urbana,  some  fifteen  or  sixteen 
miles  north  of  Buffalo.  March  26th,  1869,  he  reported  that  he 
had  organized  the  church  with  eleven  members  and  A.  F.  Mc- 
Dowell as  ruling  elder.  The  church  at  Buffalo  was  enrolled 
March  31st.  1871,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  and  on  October 
11th,  1873,  the  two  churches  were  consolidated,  taking  the  name 
of  the  latter.  Rev.  L.  J.  Matthews  ministered  to  this  church  in 
an  early  day.  and  since  his  time  it  has  probably  had  a  score  of 
students,  licentiates  and  ministers  who  have  preached  there  for 
a  short  time,  and  still  maintains  a  moribund  existence.  The  dif- 
ficulty in   grouping  the  church  satisfactorily  has  been  partially 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  155 

responsible  for  this  condition,  but  it  must  be  confessed  that  in- 
ternal conditions  have  had  their  weight. 

PANTHER  CREEK— CONWAY    (LACLEDE  COUNTY). 

Rev.  James  A.  Paige  reported  (to  Presbytery  of  Southwest 
Missouri)  that  on  the  31st  day  of  December,  1868,  he  had  organ- 
ized a  church  at  Schmalhorst's  Mill,  in  Laclede  County,  of  nine 
members  (since  increased  to  fifteen),  with  two  ruling  elders,  viz., 
William  H.  Schmalhorst  and  Matthias"  G.  Miller,  and  one  deacon. 
The  church  was  enrolled  by  the  name  of  Panther  Creek,  changed 
by  request  to  Conway  September  30,  1870.  Mr.  Schmalhorst  is  still 
an  elder  in  this  church  and  has  the  rare  distinction  of  having  a 
son  share  with  him  a  position  in  the  session.  The  following  min- 
isters have  served  this  church :  Revs.  J.  A.  Harwooch  1868-70 ; 
A.  W.  Elliott,  1870-72;  H.  A.  Tucker,  1872-75;  L.  J.  Matthews, 
1875-77;  George  F.  Davis,  1882;  W.  R.  McElroy  (student),  in 
summer  of  1888;  C.  S.  Zorbaugh  (student),  summer  of  1892;  N. 
D.  Bristol,  1892-94 ;  Warren  Mooney,  1894-96 ;  W.  G.  Moore,  Feb- 
ruary, 1897,  to  December,  1899 ;  William  Alexander  Smith,  W.  N. 
Crozier,  Pliny  S.  Smith  and  W.  L.  Hackett.  Beginning  with  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Moore  the  church  entered  upon  an  era  of  pros- 
perity hitherto  unknown,  and  although  it  has  had  its  drawbacks 
since  then,  it  is  today  the  best  equipped  village  church  in  the 
Presbytery.  An  unusual  number  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
this  church  have  entered  college,  and  the  church  has  been  a  con- 
stant feeder  to  the  Springfield  churches. 

(LOCUST   GROVE— WESTMINSTER)    (NEWTON    COUNTY). 

The  organization  of  the  Locust  Grove  Church,  subsequently 
known  as  Westminster,  was  reported  to  Presbytery  by  Rev.  W.  R. 
Fulton  August  20th,  1869.  It  started  with  eight  charter  mem- 
bers, one  of  whom  was  elected  ruling  elder.  It  was  grouped  with 
Neosho  for  many  years  and  received  the  spiritual  ministrations  of 
such  ministers  as  Revs.  J.  M.  Brown,  B.  F.  Powelson,  D.  L.  Lander, 
R.  W.  Ely  and  others.    The  church  was  dissolved  October  25,  1905. 

(BETHEL)  POLK  COUNTY). 

Historic  interest  in  this  defunct  church  centers  in  the  fact 
that  in  its  eldership  were  the  names  of  Drake  and  Strain — names 
so  long  and  favorably  associated  with  the  Bolivar  and  Fair  Play 
churches.  The  church  was  reported  to  Presbytery  by  Rev.  John 
McFarland  April  15th,  1870,  as  having  been  organized  since  the 


156  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

last  meeting.  Elder  W.  G.  Drake  represented  the  church  in  Pres- 
bytery. Sixteen  persons  constituted  the  charter  membership. 
For  a  time  the  church  formed  a  part  of  a  group  served  by  Rev. 
Enos  M.  Ilalbert.    It  was  dissolved  October  18th,  1883. 

(MINERSVILLE)    (JASPER   COUNTY). 

The  Minersville  Church  was  enrolled  the  same  day  as  the 
above — the  last  church  enrolled  by  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest 
Missouri.  It  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton  with  four 
members.  Erastus  Peet  was  the  ruling  elder.  By  April  24th, 
1872,  the  membership  was  reduced  to  two  and  the  church  was 
dissolved. 

CHURCHES  ORGANIZED  AND  ENROLLED  BY  OZARK  PRES- 
BYTERY 1870-1907. 

In  the  list  of  the  churches  of  Southwest  Missouri  Presbytery 
no  mention  was  made  of  the  churches  in  Henry  County,  which 
for  a  brief  time  belonged  to  the  jurisdiction  of  that  Presbytery, 
because  their  enrollment  there  was  for  but  a  brief  time  and  in 
the  new  adjustments  they  fell  not  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark, 
but  to  that  of  Osage.  Upon  its  organization  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  began  an  investigation  of  fields  and  churches  whose  origin 
is  buried  in  oblivion  and  whose  destiny  it  was,  after  resuscitation, 
to  be  cast  with  the  Osage  Presbytery  or  the  Southern  Church. 
Such  were  the  churches  of 

NEVADA  (VERNON  COUNTY). 

(PROSPERITY)  VERNON  COUNTY). 

(LAMAR)   (BARTON  COUNTY). 

Minutes  March  31st,  1871:  "Revs.  Messrs.  Fulton,  McFar- 
land  and  Pinkerton  were  appointed  to  visit  the  churches  of  La- 
mar, Nevada  and  vicinity  and  report  to  next  meeting." 
Fulton,  McFarland  and  Pinkerton,  appointed  to  visit  the  churches 
of  Lamar,  Nevada  and  vicinity  reported  that  they  had  done  so 
in  part  and  found  nothing  encouraging  in  that  field." 

April  13th,  1872:  "Letters  from  Nevada  City  were  read 
showing  the  importance  of  occupying  the  place  at  once,  where- 
upon a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton  and  Elder 
Scroggs  were  appointed  to  visit  that  field,  and  if  the  way  be  clear 
to  organize  a  Presbyterian  Church.' ' 

Minutes  September  14th,  1872:    "The  Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton  re- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  157 

ported  the  organization  of  a  church  at  Nevada  City,  Vernon 
County,  consisting  of  ten  members  (four  elders  and  one  deacon). 
The  church  was  enrolled." 

Minutes  April  10th,  1875:  "The  church  at  Lamar  was  on 
motion  stricken  from  the  roll  and  the  remaining  members  be 
(evidently  were)  directed  to  attach  themselves  to  the  church  of 
Prosperity. ' ' 

Lamar  was  subsequently  occupied  by  the  Presbyterians,  U. 
S.,  and  Vernon  County  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Osage  in  the  fall  of  1874.  In  the  readjustments  of  1907  this 
county  was  placed  in  the  confines  of  Carthage  Presbytery.  The 
reader  is  referred  to  Hill's  History  of  Kansas  City  Presbytery, 
pp.  293,  294  and  302,  for  sketches  of  Nevada  and  Prosperity. 
The  above  is  given  as  indicating  work  done  at  an  earlier  date 
than  that  suggested  by  the  records  available  to  Dr.  Hill. 

But  the  new  Presbytery  was  not  more  intent  on  looking  up 
moribund  organizations  than  it  was  in  entering  new  fields. 

Minutes  March  31st,  1871:  "Organizations  of  new  churches 
were  reported  at: 

"Pierce  City,  January  22,  1871,  with  nine  members,  by  Rev. 
W.  L.  Miller.     T.  Rakaby,  elder;  A.  Bavington,  deacon. 

"Logan,  March,  1871,  James  B.  Milliken,  elder,  by  Rev.  W. 
H.  Downing. 

"Verona,  March  26,  1871.  Elders  Thomas  Lumley  and  Geo. 
A.  Purdy. 

"Mountain  Grove,  Elders  Andrews  and  Griffith. 

"Bolivar,  Elders  Randolph  and  Strain. 

"Buffalo." 

Sketches  of  Bolivar  and  Buffalo  are  given  above.  The  ca- 
reers of  the  other  churches  were  brief  and  uneventful.  The  re- 
union of  1907  brought  from  the  Cumberland  wing  of  the  church 
into  the  united  body  churches  at  Pierce  City,  Verona  and  Moun- 
tain Grove. 

STOCKTON    (CEDAR  COUNTY). 

"Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton  reported  the  organization  of  a  church 
in  Stockton  of  seven  members,  with  one  ruling  elders,  James  H. 
Bovell,  elected  and  installed." — Minutes  October  6,  1871. 

The  church  was  stricken  from  the  roll  April  30th,  1885,  and 
restored  September  15,  1887.  The  committee  appointed  to  visit 
the  church  at  that  time  failed  to  report  at  the  next  meeting — at 
least  no  record  of  a  report  is  given.  As  the  church  disappeared 
from  the  roll  once  more,  the  writer  organized  it  again  in  Decem- 
ber, 1902,  and  it  was  enrolled  April  14th,  1903.  In  the  days  of 
Fulton  and  McFarland  a  few  staunch  Presbyterians  lived  in  or 


i  58  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

aear  the  capital  of  Cedar  County,  and  they  seem  to  have  been  in 
touch  and  fellowship  with  the  Presbyterians  of  Greenfield  and 
other  places.  One  of  these,  Hugh  Ross,  left  a  farm  of  540  acres 
that  at  the  death  of  his  wife  was  to  he  sold  and  the  proceeds 
used  to  build  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  Stockton.  The  will  was 
tiled  for  record  February  10,  1860.  With  the  lapse  of  time  the 
farm  has  become  \<>vy  valuable,  and  if  the  will  of  Mr.  Ross  is 
ever  carried  out  the  little  flock  ought  to  have  a  commodious  and 
elegant  house  of  worship. 

PRESTON  (JASPER  COUNTY). 

This  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton  October 

8th,  1871.  The  field  was  practically  abandoned  in  1876,  when 
this  entry  was  made  in  the  minutes  (March  11th)  :  "Resolved, 
that  in  view  of  the  removal  of  several  members  of  the  Preston 
Church  and  the  organization  of  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  covering  the  same  territory,  and  the  conviction  on  the 
mind  of  Presbytery  that  all  the  time  of  Brother  Glasscock  is  re- 
quired at  Joplin,  that  the  brother  be  excused  from  laboring  at 
Preston  until  next  meeting  of  Presbytery."  Numerous  ministers 
efficient  and  otherwise  have  served  the  church  since  that  time, 
and  it  continues  on  the  roll  of  Presbytery. 

NEWTONIA  AND  RITCHEY  (NEWTON  COUNTY). 

The  name  of  this  defunct  church  awakens  reflections  I  am 
tempted  to  record.  In  1868  my  childhood  home  was  transferred 
from  Texas  to  Newtonia,  Mo.  When  the  St.  Louis  &  San  Fran- 
cisco Railroad  went  through  Newton  County.,  we  moved  to  the 
railroad,  and  father  helped  the  Ritcheys  to  found  the  town  of 
Ritchey.  There  was  a  conviction  broadcast  at  that  time  that 
every  railroad  town  would  speedily  become  a  city  of  pretensions 
dimensions.  Many  of  these  towns  have  not  yet  realized  the  ex- 
pectations of  their  founders.  Not  to  mention  others,  Ritchey  an- 
swers to  this  statement.  Our  stay  there  was  brief  and  I  carried 
with  me  to  our  new  home  in  Johnson  County  the  impressions  of 
a  child  eight  or  nine  years  of  age.  I  did  not  pass  through  the 
place  again  until  I  had  finished  my  collegiate  and  theological 
education  and  had  entered  the  ministry.  Then  my  thoughts  were 
similar  to  those  that  coursed  through  my  mind  as  I  went  to 
Neosho  to  attend  Synod  the  other  day.  About  150  yards  from 
the  depot  is  the  building  where  father  kept  store  and  hotel.  I 
had  recollected  it  as  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away.  Back  of  that  is 
an  ordinarv  hill  whereon  stands  a  brick  house  similar  to  the  resi- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  159 

dences  galore  of  the  well-to-do  in  many  towns  and  cities.  I  had 
remembered  it  as  a  palatial  structure  commensurate  with  the  re- 
quirements of  the  fabulously  rich.  Yes,  I  have  occasion  to  remem- 
ber it,  for  behind  that  building  in  its  incompleted  state  I  had  hid- 
den in  an  act  of  disobedience  that  led  to  the  utterance  of  my  first 
lie,  and  a  little  farther  back  grew  the  hazel  switch  that  helped 
to  keep  the  incident  green  in  memory.  Ah,  but  memory  painted 
that  hill  as  a  mountain.  Across  the  branch  on  another  hill  and 
near  an  open  field  stood  the  old  school  house,  with  its  rude  pipe 
desks.  One  day  "Jim"  struck  his  bare  toe  through  the  crack 
in  the  desk  and  dug  into  my  back,  and  I  pinched  the  toe.  Two 
boys  stood  out  on  the  floor  and  again  the  hazel  switch  was  in  evi- 
dence, and  while  my  own  back  was  yet  smarting,  at  the  risk  of 
getting  another  rap,  I  leaned  over  and  whispered,  "I  wouldn't 
cry,  Jim,  if  I  was  you."  And  sometimes  it  has  seemed  to  me 
that  that  boyish  attempt  to  be  a  consoler  was  the  foregleam  of 
a  sentiment  that  led  me  to  enter  a  ministry  of  consolation.  And 
I  am  sure  that  the  refusal  to  be  caught  in  "black  man"  or  "base" 
played  in  that  open  field  had  something  to  do  with  my  tendency 
to  "persevere"  in  anything  I  undertake.  Space  forbids  me  to 
tell  of  the  bottom  farm  where  I  planted  my  first  corn,  the  prairie 
where  the  cows  roamed  and  where  we  gathered  strawberries, 
and  the  mill  down  the  creek  where  the  miller  gave  me  a  fish  on 
my  birthday.  But  if  the  prospective  of  childhood  presents  sights 
and  scenes  on  so  much  vaster  a  scale  than  after  years  reveal  them 
to  be  I  fancy  that  many  things  that  "loom  up  big"  now  will 
seem  to  be  of  small  consequence    bye  and  bye. 

The  church  of  Newtonia  and  Ritchey  was  organized  by  Rev. 
W.  L.  Miller  at  Newtonia,  and  was  enrolled  by  the  Presbytery 
October  12th,  1871.  It  received  the  double  name  because  the 
membership  resided  in  the  two  towns.  Like  the  town  of  Ritchey, 
it  failed  to  realize  expectations  and  was  soon  abandoned.  My 
-father  was  a  ruling  elder  in  this  church. 

SALEM   (JASPER  COUNTY). 

The  Salem  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Miller,  and 
was  enrolled  by  Presbytery  April  12th,  1872.  Thirteen  members 
constituted  the  charter  roll,  two  of  whom  were  made  ruling  elders. 
The  church  was  originally  located  in  the  country  about  three 
miles  from  its  present  location,  in  the  town  of  Jasper.  Hard  by 
the  original  location  may  still  be  seen  "God's  acre."  From  the 
eldership  of  this  church  T.  H.  Allin  entered  the  ministry  after 
having  done  such  efficient  work  as  a  lay  preacher. 

Another  elder  of  this  church  whose  counsels  were  of  great 
value  to  the  Presbytery  was  S.   Cadwallader.     Before  the  city 


l6<)  PRESBYTERIANISM    IN    mi.    OZARKS. 

churches  assumed  such  prominence  In  the  Presbytery  this  was 
one  of  that  group  of  .Jasper  County  churches  that  received  snch 
efficient  services  and  repaid  the  efforts  Ilia)  were  put  forth  in  its 
behalf.  Like  many  of  our  village  and  country  churehes,  its  his- 
tory is  marked  by  uneventful  short  time  services  of  various  min- 
isters, followed  invariably  by  months  of  vacancy.  (Ministers:  W. 
L.  .Miller,  T.  H.  Allin.  W.  A.  Cravens,  R.  T.  McMahan,  F.  M.  Hitch- 
cock, .1.  rF.  Curtis,  A.  M.  Mann  and  B.  F.  Logan. 

S1IILOII    (JASPER  COUNTY). 
GRACE   (JASPER  COUNTY). 

"Rev.  Miller  reported  the  organization  of  a  church  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  Jasper  County,  consisting  of  eighteen  mem- 
bers, one  elder  and  two  deacons.  Church  called  Shiloh." — Min- 
utes October  11th,  1873. 

The  Grace  church  was  organized  by  Mr.  Miller,  February 
21st,  1875, -with  eighteen  or  nineteen  members.  Removals  and 
the  inability  of  Presbytery  to  keep  these  fields  supplied  with 
stated  preaching  led  to  their  dismemberment  and  disappearance 
from  the  roll  of  Presbytery.  Grace  church  was  restored  to  the 
roll  Sept.  22,  1898,  and  was  apparently  a  reorganization  of  the 
two  churches.  Under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Caldwell  a 
house  of  worship  costing  $1200  was  erected  in  1899.  Revs.  G.  M. 
Caldwell,  W.  A.  Smith,  local  evangelist ;  E.  A.  Junkin.  Revs.  T. 
C.  Guy  and  B.  F.  Logan  have  served  the  church  since  its  reorgan- 
ization. 

ASH  GROVE  (GREENE  COUNTY) 

The  minutes  of  Oct.  11,  1873,  contain  this  entry:  "Rev.  J. 
M.  Brown  reported  the  organization  of  a  church  in  the  western 
part  of  Greene  county  consisting  of  12  members,  with  three  eld- 
ers, viz,  Samuel  Blackburn,  Thomas  Mayes  and  William  Dalzell. 
who  were  ordained  and  installed,  the  church  to  be  called  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Ash  Grove.  The  church  was  placed  on  the  roll." 
Among  the  ministers  who  have  served  this  church  are  Revs.  C.  C. 
Hembree,  G.  T.  Thompson,  G.  H.  Williamson,  Jay  C.  Hanna,  B. 
H.  Gragg,  Charles  Memmott,  J.  W.  Knott,  W.  L.  Hackett  and  S. 
V.  Sydenstricker.  During  Mr.  Hackett 's  term  of  service  April. 
1903-April,  1904,  the  house  of  worship  was  destroyed  by  tire  and 
the  congregation  began  worshipping  in  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church.  And  when  Mr.  Sydenstricker  came  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  two  congregations.  The  two  congregations  erect- 
ed a  commodious  manse  before  they  were  officially  consolidated. 


Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks.  161 

and  were  to  all  intents  and  purposes  one  church.    The  New  Pres- 
bytery of  Ozark  ratified  the  consolidation  June  18,  1907. 

(VIRGIL  CITY)    (CEDAR  COUNTY). 

"An  application  was  received  from  the  Virgil  City  Presby- 
terian Church  (0.  S.)  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  this  Presby- 
tery, and  the  name  to  be  placed  on  the  roll  of  our  churches.  Ow- 
ing to  certain  irregularities  in  this  application  Presbytery  di- 
rected that,  the  matter  be  referred  back  to  the  church  to  make  a 
regular  and  formal  application  to  this  Presbytery  at  its  ad- 
journed meeting,  to  be  held  in  Neosho,  Mo." — Minutes  October 
17th,  1873. 

"The  following  resolution  was  read  and  adopted:  'That  the 
request  of  a  portion  of  the  members  of  the  Virgil  City  Church 
to  be  received  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery  be  granted,  the 
church  put  upon  our  roll,  and  that  we  instruct  our  Presbyterial 
Missionary  to  visit  this  church  as  soon  as  possible.' — Minutes 
November  1st,  1873. 

Query:  Is  (0.  S.)  the  clerk's  designation  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  U.  S.  ?  This  church  does  not  appear  on  the  permanent 
roll  of  the  Presbytery,  though  the  resolution  called  for  its  placing 
there.  It  was  organized  with  fifteen  members  by  Rev.  J.  Gal- 
breath,  and  was  enrolled  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lafayette,  U.  S., 
September  8th,  1870. 

JOPLIN  FIRST  (JASPER  COUNTY). 

"There  is  a  new  town  in  Jasper  County.  Its  name  is  Joplin, 
location  fourteen  miles  southwest  of  Carthage,  on  the  farm  of  J. 
C.  Cox.  Has  lead  in  unlimited  quantities  under  it.  Everybody 
out  of  employment  ought  to  go  there  and  dig.  This  is  better 
than  doing  nothing  and  it  may  lead  to  certain  fortune." — Chron- 
ological data  for  June  22d,  1871,  in  Jasper  County  History. 

In  the  Joplin  Daily  Globe  of  September  28th,  1906,  it  is  stated 
that  W.  J.  Hayden.  a  missionary  of  the  American  Sunday  School 
Union,  organized  the  first  Sunday  school  in  Joplin  more  than 
thirty-five  years  ago.  Telling  of  his  experiences  at  the  time,  Mr. 
Hayden  said:  "There  was  only  one  brick  building  in  Joplin 
then,  the  residence  of  John  C.  Cox.  While  here  I  stayed  in  the 
home  of  a  man  who  had  a  house  built  of  hay.  It  was  the  only 
residence  of  the  kind  I  have  ever  seen.  Though  built  almost  en- 
tirely of  hay,  it  was  comfortable  and  well  arranged.  *  *  * 
The  town  was  just  then  beginning  to  attract  attention  and  some 
mining  was  being  done  along  Joplin  Creek.     It  was  in  a  little 


162  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks. 

frame  building  near  this  stream  where  I  organized  tin-  Sunday 
school,  which  had  the  distinction  of  beinv.  the  first  to  be  estab- 
lished in  the  city."  Joplin  First  found  ;i  place  in  the  annals  of 
Ozark  Presbytery  April  24th.  1874.  when  this  entry  was  made: 
"Hew  B.  P.  Powelson  reported  the  organization  of  a  Presby- 
terian Church  at  .Joplin  on  the  28th  of  December,  1873,  consist- 
ing of  thirteen  members,  with  two  ruling  elders.  The  church 
was  enrolled."  There  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  the  date  of  the 
organization,  but  probably  the  above  is  correct.  Mr.  A.  P>.  Mc- 
Connell,  one  of  the  elders,  wrote  me:  "There  are  two  or  three 
old  session  record  books.  *  *  *  In  one  of  these  it  is  stated 
that  the  church  was  organized  in  1S72.  It  is  also  stated  in  one 
record  that  the  organization  was  approved  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  in  the  spring  of  1873."  Mr.  McConnell  places  the  date 
of  organization  on  the  27th  of  December,  instead  of  the  28th,  as 
per  the  records  of  Presbytery,  but  he  intimates  that  the  historical 
parts  of  the  old  records  appear  to  have  been  written  from  mem- 
ory. The  roster  of  charter  members  includes  the  following:  W. 
H.  Clippinger,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Clippinger.  Mrs.  I).  Gordon,  Mrs.  M. 
E.  Allen,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Mayfield,  Mrs.  Alcorn.  Mr. 
Clayton,  J.  H.  Taylor,  E.  Rogers,  Mrs.  E.  Samuel  and  Mrs.  Sulli- 
van. Of  these  charter  members,  Mrs.  Allen  alone  remains. 
Messrs.  Clippinger  and  Clayton  were  elected  ruling  elders.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  names  of  twelve  members  are  given.  Depo- 
nent sayeth  not  what  became  of  the  "thirteenth"  mentioned  in 
the  Presbyterian  report.  The  newly  organized  church,  largely 
through  the  liberality  of  John  H.  Taylor,  purchased  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  located  in  East  Joplin,  and  con- 
tinued to  worship  there  until  the  fall  of  1876.  Thereupon  the 
church  decided  to  locate  in  what  was  then  called  West  Joplin. 
Ferguson's  Hall  was  rented  for  a  year,  and  here  the  little  flock 
worshipped  until  they  were  ready  to  occupy  their  new  church 
at  the  corner  of  Seventh  (then  called  Eighth  street)  and  Main 
streets.  The  lots  for  this  structure  were  donated  by  O.  S.  Pitcher, 
and  the  total  cost  was  $4,000,  of  which  the  Board  of  Church  Erec- 
tion contributed  $1,000.  The  second  house  of  worship  was  erected 
in  1900  at  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Sixth  streets.  Mr.  John  H. 
Taylor  donated  the  adjoining  lot,  on  which  was  erected  a  commo- 
dious manse  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  The  church  building  itself  cost 
$29,000,  and  is  more  nearly  adapted  for  institutional  work  than 
any  other  building  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  The 
ministers  who  have  served  the  church  are : 

Rev.  Squire  Glascock,  S.  S.,  from  December,  1873,  to  summer 
of  1876. 

Rev.  Donald  K.  Campbell,  P.,  from  November,  1876,  to  fall 
of  1879. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks.  163 

Rev.  H.  W.  Woods,  P.,  from  fall  1879  to  February,  1881. 
Dr.  J.  J.  Marks,  S.  S.,  April,  1881,  to  October,  1881. 
Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  P.,  October,  1881,  to  October.  1883. 
Rev.  F.  R.  Farrand,  P.,  October,  1883,  to  October.  1885.* 
*The   records   of    Presbytery    date    this   pastorate    from    May,    1883,    to 
April,  1884.     The  above  was  furnished  by  one  of  the  elders. 

Rev.  A.  S.  Miller,  S.  S.,  April,  1885,  to  November,  1885. 
Dr.  Henry  B.  Fry,  P.,  November,  1885,  to  November,  188: ». 
Rev.  J.  A.  Gerhard,  P.,  February,  1890,  to  February,  1696. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Welty,  P.,  May,  1896,  to  September.  1902. 
Rev.  L.  H.  Shane,  P.,  January,  1903,  to  June,  1904. 
Dr.  B.  M.  Shive,  P.,  January,  1905,  ,to  June,  1908. 

Dr.  W.  S.  Knight  served  the  churches  as  supply  during  the 
interims  following  the  resignations  of  Dr.  Welty  and  Mr.  Shane. 
This  church  gave  to  the  Presbyterian  ministry  one  of  her  bright- 
est soris.  E.  W.  Clippinger,  and  her  elders,  notably  John  H.  Tay- 
lor, G.  B.  Young  and  A.  B.  McConnell,  have  been  numbered  among 
the  most  faithful  and  efficient  Presbyters.  From  time  to  time 
the  church  has  maintained  successful  missions,  and  from  two  of 
these  the  Bethany  and  the  North  Heights  churches  have  been 
erected.  When  it  became  evident  that  the  Presbyterian  and 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  churches  would  unite  the  Cumberland 
Church  of  Joplin  transferred  its  property  to  this  church  (1904), 
and  its  entire  membership  was  added  to  the  roil  of  the  First 
Church.  For  at  least  fifteen  years  this  church  received  aid  from 
the  Board  of  Home  Missions.  Under  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Ger- 
hard it  became  easily  self-sustaining,  and  during  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  Welty  it  took  rank  with  the  strongest  churches  in  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

(LINN  CREEK)    (CAMDEN  COUNTY). 

"Linn  Creek  Church  was  ordered  to  be  entered  on  Ihe  roll." 
—  Minutes  September  25th,  1874. 

''It  appearing  that  no  communication  has  been  received 
from  Linn  Crek  for  a  number  of  years,  although  written  to,  and 
that  no  cider  is  there,  the  name  was  ordered  to  be  stricken  from 
the  roll  of  Presbytery,  and  the  stated  clerk  was  instructed  to  give 
letters  of  ("!:sinissal  to  such  members  as  may  be  there." — Minutes 
April  3rd.  1884. 

This  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  this  church.  To  this  lumi- 
nous record  may  be  added  the  facts  that  it  was  grouped  with  Her- 
mitage, and  that  at  one  time  Presbytery  appointed  a  committee 
consisting  of  Rev.  E.  M.  Halbert  and  Elder  Lee  to  counsel  with 
the  church.     If  it  was  located  in  Camden  County,  as  I  infer,  its 


164  Presbvterianism  in  the  Ozarks. 

chief  historic  interest  centers  in  the  fact  that  the  Presbytery  has 
had  at  least  one  organization  in  that  county. 

(MOUNT   BETHEL)    (POLK  COUNTY). 

"Rev.  J.  M.  Brown  reported  the  organization  of  a  Presby- 
terian Church  in  August,  1874,  in  PHlc  County,  consisting  of 
twelve  members,  with  two  ruling  elders  Reporl  accepted  and 
the  church  entered  on  the  roll." — Minutes  September  24th,  1674 

I  infer  this  was  the  Mount  Bethel  Church  an  offshoot  from 
the  Mount  Zion  Church,  and  located  near  Orleans.  It  was  min- 
istered to  by  Rev.  E.  M.  Halbert  and  later  by  Rev.  G.  F.  Davis. 
After  repeated  efforts  to  disband  the  church  I  he  members  were 
dismissed  to  the  churches  of  Bolivar  ana  Mount  Zion,  and  the 
name  was  dropped  from  the  roll  April  11th,  1889. 

(HERMITAGE)    (HICKORY  COUNTY). 

'"The  first  platted  town  in  the  counvy  (Hickory),  Hermitage 
was  made  a  town  site  in  1845  ."  That  its  groAvth  was  r.ot  phe- 
nomenal is  ;?een  in  the  statement:  "Li  1859  W.  E.  Dorman  built 
his  large  two-story  frame  hotel  on  the  east  side  •»£  the  square, 
and  put  up  a  dinner  bell  on  the  top  ot  a  pole  in  the  yard.  This 
was  a  noted  advance  in  the  town." 

Before  the  Civil  War  Presbyterian  minsters  made  Hickory 
County  a  regular  rendezvous.  While  North  Prairie  Institute 
was  nourishing  and  when  Weaubleau  listened  to  the  preaching 
of  the  Calvinislic  faith  Hermitage  was  not  passed  by.  Among 
others.  Rev.  W.  H.  Smith  Dreached  there.  Wich  the  coming  con- 
flict services  become  more  desultory,  ana  when  the  carnage  had 
died  away  more  or  less  abortive  efforts  at  revival  were  made. 

"Rev.  J.  h.  Vawter  reported  the  6rganization  of  a  church 
at  Hermitage  consisting  of  twenty  members.  Messrs.  J.  B.  and 
E.  F.  Halbert  were  elected  and  installed  elders.  Church  was  en- 
rolled."—Minutes  April   10th,   1875. 

PLEASANT  VALLEY— LOCKWOO'J  (DADE  COUNTY). 

The  Pl-jiFtnt  Valley  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  AY.  R. 
Fulton  February,  1876.  with  twelve  members.  Grouped  with 
Ash  Grove,  it  .vas  here  1  his  worthy  herald  of  the  cross  termi- 
nated his  earthly  labors.  On  the  i9th  of  December,  1880,  Mr. 
FnHon  preached  his  last  sermon  in  thw  church.  Text,  "The 
King's  business  requireth  haste."  The  preceding  April  the 
church  had  been  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Church  Erection 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks.  165 

for  $600  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  From 
this  church  Fountain  R.  Farrancl  was  received  by  the  Presby- 
tery as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  May  4th  of  this  same  year. 
On  the  3rd  of  April,  1884,  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed 
to  Lockwood  by  consent  of  Presbytery.  According  to  local 
sources  of  information,  the  Lockwood  Church  was  organized  in 
December,  1883.  The  minutes  of  Presbytery  agree  with  the  pre- 
vious statement  and  take  no  notice  of  this  as  a  new  organization. 
Under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  December.  1833, 
to  December,  1884,  a  house  of  worship  was  erected.  Mr.  William- 
son has  since  served  the  church  as  follows:  May,  1887,  to  March, 
1888,,  June,  1890,  to  June,  1891,  occasionally.  November,  1893,  to 
January,  1895,  occasionally.  Other  ministers  who  have  served 
the  church  are :  G.  T.  Thompson,  January,  1884,  to  January, 
1885 ;  D.  R.  Crockett,  February,  1887,  to  March.  1887 ;  J.  C.  Shep- 
herd, September,  1888,  for  three  months ;  J.  I.  Hughes,  December, 
1891,  to  March,  1893;  J.  R.  Gass,  March,  1895,  occasionally  for 
three  or  four  years ;  Robert  E.  L.  Jarvis,  1900,  occasionally ;  W. 
G.  Moore,  December,  1901-1902 ;  E.  E'.  Mathes,  September,'  1903. 
to  1905 ;  H.  A.  Tucker,  1906.  six  months ;  Samuel  Wilev,  Decem- 
ber, 1907. 

WALDENSIAX   (BARRY  COUNTY). 

This  French-speaking  church,  the  only  church  of  foreign 
tongue  in  the  Presbytery,  was  received  September  29th.  1876, 
when  this  entry  was  made:  "By  unanimous  vote  of  the  Presby- 
tery the  Waldensian  Church,  in  Stoner  Prairie,  in  Barry  County, 
was  added  to  our  roll  of  churches.  On  motion  of  Presbytery  a 
committee  of  three  be*   appointed  to  write  to  the  Waldensian 

*Eviclently  was. — Ed. 

Table  and  the  minister  of  the  French  Protestant  churches,  from 
which  M.  Arnant  (the  elder)  comes,  in  relation  to  the  Walden- 
sian colony  in  Barry  County,  now  taken  under  our  care,  and  to 
give  assurances  to  the  brethren  of  our  purpose  to  watch  over  and 
care  for  the  colony  as  far  as  our  circumstances  will  admit,  and 
the  desire  of  the  Presbytery  that  the  Waldensian  Table  and  the 
churches  of  Bourdean  may  encourage  those  of  their  members  mov- 
ing to  America  to  join  the  colony  already  established  in  Barry 
County,  Missouri.  Revs.  Miller  and  Dunlap  and  Elder  C.  Shep- 
pard  were  appointed  said  committee." 

Just  before  this  the  records  show  that  the  minister  in  charge. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Solomon,  had  been  received  by  the  Presbytery.  It  has 
been  very  hard  for  the  Presbytery  to  keep  this  church  supplied 
with  stated  preaching  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  to  be  acceptable 
the  minister  must  be  able  to  speak  in  French.     In  addition  to 


166  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks. 

Mr.  Solomon,  the  following  ministers  have  served  the  church  for 
;i  longer  or  shorter  time  :    Revs.  ( !.  A.  Bnffa.  J.  ( r.  Knotter,  Thomas 
Charbonnell,  P.  P.  Briol  and  E.  A.  Curdy. 

(CENTER)   (JASPER  COUNTY). 

This  church  was  organized  March  25th,  1S77.  with  ten  mem- 
bers and  one  ruling  elder,  C.  C.  Ball.  It  was  reported  to  Presby- 
tery by  Dr.  Knight,  but  one  record  intimates  that  it  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  T.  II.  Allin,  The  church  left  but  few  traces  on  the 
annals  of  Presbytery.     It  was  dissolved  April  12th.  1883. 

WEBB  CITY   (JASPER  COUNTY). 

Presbyterians  were  commendably  precocious  in  entering  "the 
town  that  Jack  built."  Webb  City  was  laid  out  in  May,  1876, 
and  the  following  November  Rev.  Donald  K.  Campbell  held  the 
first  Presbyterian  service  in  a  hall  to  which  he  had  enticed  thirty- 
three  people  by  singing-  at  the  open  window.  At  that  time  Mr. 
Campbell  was  supplying  the  church  at  Joplin.  On  the  27th  of 
March,  1877,  Mr.  Campbell  and  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  of  Carthage, 
organized  the  tirst  Presbyterian  Church  of  Webb  City.  Those 
entering  the  organization  were:  William  A.  Wheatley  and  wife, 
Mary  S. ;  Joseph  King  and  wife,  Mary  S. ;  W.  J.  Muskimins  and 
wife,  Eunice  J. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Cass,  M.  Boatman  and  Dr.  C.  P.  Mil- 
ler. W.  A.  Wheatley  was  elected  and  ordained  ruling  elder. 
Rev.  D.  K.  Campbell  supplied  the  church  for  three  years  "Iu 
the  spring  of  1879  a  store  room  (really  a  saloon)  on  the  Main 
street  was  purchased  and  fitted  up  for  use  by  the  congregation, 
and  in  April  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  held  its  session  there."  At 
this  time  the  membership  of  the  church  was  twenty-six.  After 
Mr.  Campbell's  departure  the  church  was  vacant  for  some  time, 
and  for  the  next  nine  years  such  was  its  condition  for  more  than 
half  of  the  time.  The  membership  fluctuated  between  twenty- 
five  and  less  than  half  that  number.  In  1880  Rev.  Clark  Salmon 
was  employed  as  stated  supply,  and  served  the  church  for  two 
or  three  years.  After  a  lengthy  interregnum  Rev.  T.  R.  Easter- 
day  preached  for  the  little  flock  a  part  of  the  year  1884.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Keach  in  1885,  and  by  Student  Arthur  Hall 
in  1886.  In  1889  Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.  I).'.  began  to  supply  the. 
church  from  Carthage,  where  he  was  in  charge  of  Carthage  Col- 
legiate Intitule. 

"At  that  time  the  little  flock  was  greatly  discouraged  and 
sadly  demoralized.  Only  ten  members  could  he  found;  the  rec- 
ords of  the  session  were  lost,  and  so  remain  to  this  day.     There 


WEBB    CITY    CHURCH 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks.  167 

was  but  one  elder,  and  he  superannuated  and  infirm.  But  the 
prospect  of  securing  stated  preaching-  once  more  was  inspiring. 
The  property  was  sold  and  a  neat  little  house  of  worship  erected 
with  aid  from  the  Board  of  Church  Erection.  The  membership 
in  1889  increased  to  twenty-five.  In  1890  Rev.  J.  G.  Reaser  moved 
from  Carthage  to  Webb  City,  and  since  that  date  has  given  .ill 
his  time  to  the  church.  It  has  had  the  usual  vicissitudes  of  West- 
ern churches,  gaining  and  losing  from  year  to  year." — From 
sketch  written  by  Rev.  Reaser  in  1898. 

The  historical  sketch  prepared  by  Dr.  J.  F.  Shephard  places 
the  beginning  of  Dr.  Reaser 's  labors  a  year  earlier  and  states  that 
at  that  time  there  were  eleven  members.  Dr.  S.  continues:  'Here 
began  the  pastorate  of  this  faithful  servant  of  Christ  and  the 
church  which  was  destined  to  give  the  church  a  permanent  hope 
and  standing  in  the  city.  Of  this  ministry  of  eleven  years.  Dr. 
Reaser  *  *  *  says.  'Of  my  several  fields  in  an  unbroken 
ministry  of  fifty-five  years,  Webb  City  holds  a  high  place  in  my 
affections.'  During  his  pastorate  116  were  added  to  the  church, 
and  on  his  retiring,  because  of  advanced  years,  and  against  the 
earnest  request  of  the  people,  he  left  a  membership  of  98."  The 
scholarly  attainment,  genial  optimism,  ready  wit  and  deep  pnty 
of  this  man  of  God,  who  brought  forth  fruit  in  old  age,  greatly 
endeared  him  to  this  flock,  which  virtually  had  its  second  birth 
with  his  coming.  The  first  eleven  years  had  closed  with  a  net 
gain  of  one!  When  he  took  the  church  no  one  wanted  it.  When 
he  left  it  its  prospects  for  development  were  such  that  many  ap- 
plicants were  found.  The  mantle  of  the  aged  prophet  fell  upon 
&  sweet  singer  of  Israel  of  tenderer  years.  Rev.  Charles  B.  Bnv- 
ing  entered  upon  his  services  for  this  church  in  May,  1899.  The 
following  December  he  was  installed  pastor — a  pastorate  that 
was  dissolved  in  February,  1905.  During  this  pastorate  the  pres- 
ent elegant  and  commodious  house  of  worship  was  erected.  One 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  were  added  to  the  membership  and  140 
were  supposed  to  answer  aye  at  roll  call  when  Mr.  Boving  left. 
By  this  time  the  town  has  assumed  the  proportions  of  a  city  of 
nearly  ten  thousand  inhabitants,  or,  including  Carterville  and  sub- 
urbs, nearer  twenty  thousand.  In  the  May  time  Mr.  Boving  had 
come  to  them.  His  ministry  had  been  fragrant  like  the  breath  of 
spring,  and  hence  they  waited  until  the  May  time  (1905)  to  find 
'a  successor  in  the  person  of  the  versatile,  virile  and  vigorous 
Rev.  J.  F.  Shepherd,  Ph.  D.  Dr.  Shepherd  is  an  able  preacher 
and  a  thorough  organizer.  He  came  "into  the  kingdom"  at  the 
pychological  moment.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  has  added 
to  its  equipment  a  $4,000  manse,  a  pipe  organ,  janitor's  home,  etc. 
Aside  from  the  regulation  auxiliaries,  the  boys  are  organized  into 
a  "Holy  Grail"  Club — the  men  into  a  brotherhood  and  into  a 


1 68  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks. 

large  Baraca  class,  taught  by  the  pastor.  The  first  annual  re- 
porl  of  the  church  after  Dr.  Shepherd's  coming  showed  an  en- 
rollment of  175.  A  year  later,  1907,  the  membership  was  in- 
creased to  325.  The  increase  is  traceable  in  part  to  the  union 
consummated  with  the  Cumberland  Church,  which  reported  the 
previous  year  a  membership  of  101.  This  union  was  ratified  by 
Presbytery  September  12th,  1906.  The  building  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Cumberland  Church  was  <;iven  to  the  prospective 
church  of  Carterville.  At  the  beginning  of  this  sketch  I  have  de- 
nominated Webb  City  "the  town  that  Jack  built."  Other  places 
that  might  be  mentioned  may  claim  that  by  way  of  eminence 
the  title  should  be  otherwise  conferred.  Yet  it  is  said  that  the. 
largest  lead  and  zinc  mine  in  the  world  is  just  outside  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  Webb  City.  The  enterprising  high  school  stu- 
dents of  Webb  City  have  denominated  their  highly  creditable 
annual  "King  Jack,"  and  in  defending  their  title  say.  "No  name 
is  more  appropriate  for  the  Webb  City  High  School  than  King, 
and  well  she  deserves  that  name,  having  won  three  successive 
years  in  the  Inter-High  School  contest.  *  *  *  Nothing  need 
be  said  of  the  specimens  of  'Jack'  found  in  the  High  School,  but 
our  High  School  is  a  representative  of  the  best  Jack  (zinc  ore) 
district  in  the  world.  Afore  lead  and  zinc  is  mined  in  the  Webb 
City  district  than  any  district  of  the  world  of  the  same  area. 
Why  should  we  not  be  proud  to  have  the  name  'Jack'  placed  by 
the  side  of  our  well  earned  title  ?  It  is  our  mines  that  put  Webb 
City  on  the  map." 

(TRINITY)    (JASPER  COUNTY). 

Organized  at  Medoc  March  8th,  1878,  by  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Allin.  with  twentv-two  members — three  ruling  elders.  Dissolved 
April,  1894. 

(SUMMIT)    (BARTON  COUNTY). 

Organized  January  6th,  1878,  by  Rev.  Balsar  Hoffman  with 
fourteen  members.  For  two  years  Mr.  Hoffman  supplied  the 
church.  After  his  departure  it  appears  to  have  been  without  the 
stated  means  of  grace  until  its  membership  was  reduced  to  one — 
Elder  S.  Cadwallader.  Bv  order  of  Presbytery  the  church  was 
dissolved  April  12th.  1882. 

MOUNT   MORIAH— MADISON    (JASPER    COUNTY). 

The  Mount  Moriah  Church  was  organized  bv  Rev.  T.  II.  Allin 


Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks.  169 

and  was  enrolled  by  Presbytery  April  30th.  1878.  Fifteen  char- 
ter members  entered  the  organization.  The  name  of  the  church 
was  changed  to  Madison  April  12th,  1882.  Under  this  name  it 
remains  to  this  day.  Kevs.  T.  H.  Allin  and  W.  L.  Miller  did  good 
service  here  in  the  early  eighties — the  flowering  time  of  the  coun- 
try churches  of  Jasper  County.  Later  the  church  was  almost  as 
desolate  as  Goldsmith's  deserted  village,  but  again  the  work  has 
been  partially  revived. 

GRAND   PRAIRIE— WILLARD    (GREENE    COUNTY). 

Rev.  Enos  M.  Halbert  organized  this  church  in  September, 
1879.  The  church  consisted  of  eleven  charter  members,  with 
Charles  Hughes  and  Oscar  Farmer  as  ruling  elders.  Mr.  Halbert 
supplied  the  church  for  one  year.  Services  were  held  in  the  dis- 
trict school  house  at  Walnut  Spring.  Rev.  George  F.  Davis 
began  his  ministry  with  the  church  in  the  fall  of  1880.  From  1883 
to  1885  the  church  was  without  a  minister.  During  this  time  both 
elders  died  and  the  church  became  nearly  extinct.  In  the  spring 
of  1885  Mr.  Davis  returned.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in 
the  new  railroad  station,  Willard,  and  Gilbert  Hughes  was 
elected  elder.  This  house  was  dedicated  the  first  Sabbath  of 
November,  1887.  By  permission  of  Presbytery  the  name  was  sub- 
secpaently  changed  to  Willard.  The  present  elders  of  the  church 
are  Gilbert  and  James  Hughes  and  Fred  Farmer,  sons  of  the  first 
elders  of  the  church — Charles  Hughes  and  Oscar  Farmer. 

EUREKA  SPRINGS,  ARK. 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  seems  to  have  entered  Arkansas 
by  common  consent  rather  than  by  an  authoritative  extension 
of  her  domain.*  The  birth  of  the  Eureka  Springs  Church  was  a 
prophecy  and  a  prototype  of  reunited  Presbyterianism  that  has 
since  been  realized  in  part.  In  the  spring  of  1882  Presbyterial 
Missionary  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  visited  the  little  city  nestled  among 
the  hills  from  which  flow  the  pure  waters  that  have  made  it 
known  far  and  wide.  Here  he  found  three  types  of  ''the  split 
Ps." — Northern,  Southern  and  Cumberland.  After  a  series  of 
meetings,  in  which  Dr.  Marks  was  assisted  by  the  C.  P.  minister, 
Rev.  W.  B.  McElwee,  a  church  of  thirty  members  was  organized 
March  1st,  1882.  W.  F.  Daugherty,  J.  L.  Baker  and  W.  W.  John- 
son were  elected  ruling  elders.  Whether  it  was  due  to  the  pre- 
ponderance of  the  Northern  element,  the  cosmopolitan  character 
of  that  church,  the  commanding  generalship  of  the  organizer  or 
the  better  prospect  for  aid  deponent  sayeth  not,  but  the  new 


170  Presbyterianism  in  the  (  )/..\rks. 

organization  made  overtures  for  membership  in  the  sisterhood  of 
Ozark  Presbytery's  churches,  and,  better  still,  antedated  the  re- 
cent reunion,  brought  with  them  the  C.  I'.  minister,  Rev.   W.   B. 

Me  El  wee,  and  employed  liini  as  minister — a  relation  that  contin- 
ued five  and  a  half  years.  The  Home  Board  was  remarkably  gen- 
erous to  this  church.     For  five  years  it  received  an  annual  rec- 

mendation  for  $500  per  annum,  and  tins  was  reduced  to  $400, 

$350,  $200  and  so  on  until  in  1901  the  recommendation  was 
for  $7-"). 

In  the  spring  of  1883  fhe  ladies  organized  an  Extra  Cent 
Society,  through  which  the  first  money  was  raised  for  a  church 
building.  General  Powell  Clayton  donated  the  lot.  Services 
were  held  in  various  places  until  the  basement  of*  the  church  was 
completed  in  the  fall  of  1886.  In  November,  1886,  Rev.  Thomas 
Marshall,  D.  D.,  dedicated  the  handsome  uncut  stone  edifice  frre 
of  debt.    Funds  for  building  were  secured  as  follows : 

Ladier    Extra  Cent   Society $1,400 

W.  M.  Lee.  Sr.,  elder 3,000 

Board  of  Church  Erection 1,000 

Small  subscriptions  1,600 

Total  $7,000 

A  revival  meeting  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Clagett  and  Mr. 
Chester  Birch  the  following  spring  added  seventy-eight  names 
to  the  roll  of  the  church. 

Some  time  after  the  organization  of  the  church  Mrs.  Emily 
McKinnon,  of  Ashland,  Wis.,  presented  the  church  a  valuable 
manse  just  across  the  street  from  where  the  church  stands.  Mr. 
McElwee  was  followed  in  the  ministry  by  short  time  services  by 
Revs.  Mr.  Hunter  and  Dr.  Marks,  until  the  coming  of  Rev.  W.  S. 
Lowry,  who  remained  with  the  church  nearly  two  years.  Rev. 
R.  S.  Stevenson  served  the  church  from  February.  1890,  to  April, 
1893.  Other  ministers  who  have  served  the  church  are  Rev.  O. 
E.  Hart,  six  months:  Rev.  D.  N.  Allen,  April  1st.  1894.  to  Sep- 
tember. 1897:  Rev.  J.  T.  Curtis,  November,  1897.  to  July,  1900; 
Rev.  John  W.  Eltzholtz,  1900-1903;  Amos  II.  Dean.  D.  D..  1903: 
Rev.  T.  A.  Clagett,  1903-1904;  Nathaniel  Chestnut.  190.-). 

HERMON— LEHIGH   (JASPER  COUNTY). 

"Dr.  Marks  made  report  of  the  organization  of  Hermon 
Church  at  Carl  Junction  and  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Boli- 
var, and  these  churches  were  added  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery,  and 
Elder  Thomas  Walden  was  enrolled  from  Hermon  Church  as  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery. ' '-—Minutes  September  -20th,  1883. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  171 

"We  recommend  that  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  Dr.  J.  J.  Murks 
and  Elder  William  McMinn  be  appointed  a  committee  to    risit 

Lehigh  and  Hermon  Church  to  transfer  the (Here  Her- 

mon  and  Lehigh  are  both  written  in  such  a  way  I  cannot  tell 
which  is  meant),  or  to  reorganize  at  Lehigh,  as  may  seem  to  them 
advisable  after  consultation  with  the  people.  Also  that  they  be 
authorized  to  accept  for  the  Presbytery  the  offer  of  Mr.  Knight 
of  St.  Louis,  to  give  lots  and  assist  in  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice  at  Lehigh."— Minutes  October  1st.  1884. 

"The  following  churches  were  reported  as  organized:  *  *  * 
Lehigh,  by  Rev.  W.  S,  Knight  and  William  McMillan,  November 
11th,  1885."— Minutes  April  28th,  1885. 

The  church  finally  settled  down  at  Carl  Junction  under  the 
name  Lehigh.  It  has  had  a  checquered  career  and  is  still  on  the 
roll  of  Presbytery. 


(GOLDEN  CITY)  (BARTON  COUNTY). 

The  church  of  Golden  City  was  organized  September  30th, 
1883,  by  Revs.  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  G.  H.  Williamson  and  W.  L.  Mil- 
ler, with  twenty-four  members.  William  P.  Scott  and  Robert  C. 
McMinn  were  elected  ruling  elders.  Revs.  Hezekiah  Lewis,  J.  ('. 
Shepherd,  H.  B.  Johnson  and  J.  I.  Hughes  served  the  church  in 
turn  as  stated  supplies.  A  house  of  worship  was  secured  and  the 
earlier  years  of  the  life  of  the  church  seem  to  have  been  prom- 
ising, but  removals  depleted  the  organization,  and  the  church 
was  dissolved  by  order  of  Presbytery  September  13th,  1898. 

This  is  one  of  the  very  few  disbanded  churches  whose  rec- 
ords have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  stated  clerk  of  the  Presby- 
tery. And  it  is  the  only  one  whose  obituary  is  formally  recorded 
therein.     By  reason  of  this  unique  distinction  I  record  it  in  full : 

Sessional  Records,  pp.  51-52:  "The  committee  appointed  by 
the  Ozark  Presbytery  at  its  regular  meeting  at  Joplin  in  April, 
1898,  and  empowered  with  authority  to  take  definite  and  final 
action  in  the  disposition  of  church  property,  and  with  reference 
to  the  dissolution  of  the  church,  met  in  Golden  City  September 
13th,  1898.  Present:  Rev.  J.  R.  Gass  and  Mr.  J."b.  Lindsey. 
Absent:  Elder  W.  B.  Skinner.  The  committee  agreed  to  the 
sale  of  the  church  property  to  Albert  Hunt  for  the  consideration 
of  $400.  By  the  unanimous  request  of  the  members  of  the  church 
the  church  was  dissolved  and  letters  granted  to  the  following- 
persons,  being  the  whole  number  of  members  of  said  church,  viz : 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  Kentner,  Mrs.  Nancy  Glass,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Faught,  Mrs.  A.  N.  Barker,  Miss  Mary  E.  Casev.     To  non- 


172  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

residents  members:     Mrs.  Kate  Trent,  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Miss 
Mary  E.  McMinn,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

"Done  by  authority  of  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 

"JOHN  R.  GASS.  Chairman  Committee." 

In  striking  incongruity  with  this  solemn  record  the  last  half 
of  the  book  reveals  the  fact  that  some  clerk  of  session  or  other 
profane  (?)  person  has  used  it  as  a  groceryman's  day  book  ! 

(HOME)   (BARTON  COUNTY). 

Organized  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Miller  November  18th,  1883,  with 
seventeen  members.  Supplied  for  a  time  by  the  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.,  at  Lamar.  Dissolved  September  13th, 
1892.  The  committee  could  find  "neither  records  nor  mem- 
bers." 

EL  DORADO  SPRINGS  (CEDAR  COUNTY). 

"The  church  at  El  Dorado  Springs  was  organized  July  3d, 
1884,  by  Synodical  Missionary  Thomas  Marshall,  assisted  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Allin  and  Elder  Lensenderfer,  of  Warrensburg.  None  of 
these  brethren  were  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  within 
whose  bounds  the  new  church  was  formed.  At  the  next  meeting 
of  that  Presbytery,  however,  this  action  was  approved  and  the 
church  was  enrolled,  with  the  recommendation  that  'for  the 
present  it  be  grouped  with  contiguous  fields  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Osage.'  As  this  was  its  logical  grouping,  the  Presbyterial  boun- 
daries were  soon  so  adjusted  as  to  throw  it  within  our  bounds." — 
Hill's  K.  C.  Presbytery. 

IRWIN    (BARTON  COUNTY). 

The  Irwin  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson 
March  28th,  1885.  with  twenty-one  charter  members.  A  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  1888  at  a  cost  of  $1,600,  of  which  the 
Board  of  Church  Erection  contributed  $500.  For  about  four 
years  the  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  J.  Heagan,  Presbyterian 
Church,  U.  S.,  pastor  at  Lamar.  Other  ministers  who  have  served 
the  church  are:  R.  T.  MeMahan,  September,  1889-1890;  Dwight 
C.  Hanna,  February,  1891,  to  September,  1891:  F.  M.  Hickok, 
November,  1891.  to  October,  1894;  J.  T.  Curtis.  October,  1894,  to 
March,  1897:  A.  M.  Mann,  April,  1898.  to  March.  1901;  W.  S. 
Knight,  D.  D.,  April.  1901.  to  November,  1905  (except  March, 
1903,   to  September,  1903.  when   Student  F.  W.  Bible  supplied 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  173 

the  church;  G.  W.  Jurey  (Presbyterian  Ch.  U.  S.),  May,  1904,  to 
September,  1904 ;  A.  E.  Faust,  May,  1906. 

SPRINGFIELD   SECOND    (GREENE   COUNTY). 

Rev.  Thomas  Marshall,  D.  D.,  assisted  by  Rev.  Gilbert  Thom- 
son and  Licentiate  W.  J.  Hayden,  organiztd  the  Second  Church 
of  Springfield  February  17th,  1885.  The  question  of  the  advisa- 
bility of  such  an  organization  had  been  discussed  at  length  by 
the  Presbytery  at  its  fall  session,  1884,  and  was  finally  referred  to 
the  Calvary  session.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Marshall,  dated  February 
5th,  1885,  the  Calvary  session  stated  that  inasmuch  as  the  Presby- 
tery seemed  favorable  to  the  organization,  Presbyterians  in  the 
vicinity  desired  it,  and  Dr.  Marshall  deemed  it  expedient  the  said 
session  would  waive  their  judgment  and  consent  to  the  organ- 
ization. Dr.  Marshall  began  evangelistic  services  on  the  12th 
and  the  church  was  formally  organized  on  the  17th  with  the  fol- 
lowing members:  From  Calvary  Church — S.  Cadwallader,  Mrs. 
Mary  Isabella  Cadwallader,  Rawlins  Cadwallader,  Ethel  Cadwal- 
lader, D.  E.  Morrow,  Mrs.  Sadie  Morrow,  William  M.  Geiger, 
Mrs.  Rebeca  Geiger,  Mrs.  Martha  L.  Hall,  Robert  Hall,  Adam 
Rice,  Mrs.  Kate  Richardson.  From  other  Presbyterian  Churches 
— Charlts  M.  Geiger,  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Switzer,  Carrie  Switzer,  Mrs. 
Josephine  Thompson,  Allison  Thompson,  Ernest  Thompson,  Eph- 
raim  Chalfant,  Mrs.  Susan  H.  Chalfant,  James  L.  Johnson.  Mary 
Catherine  Maher,  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  was 
received  on  profession  and  baptized.  William  M.  Geiger,  S.  Cad- 
wallader and  Robert  Hall  were  elected  ruling  elders.  A  sub- 
scription was  circulated  for  a  church  building  in  the  summer, 
and' in  1886  the  present  house  of  worship  was  erected,  though  it 
was  not  completely  furnished  for  some  years.  Rev.  Arthur  Hall 
served  the  church  as  stated  supply  for  a  few  months,  and  Rev. 
Gilbert  Thompson  was  engaged  as  stated  supply  for  one  year, 
but  subsequently  declined  on  account  of  the  organization  of  the 
Westminster  Church,  U.  S.  Rev.  E.  A.  Hamilton  began  serving 
the  church  in  October,  1885,  and  remained  with  the  church  until 
March,  1893.  Mr.  Hamilton's  labors  in  the  church  were  greatly 
blessed,  and  the  church  was  rapidly  attaining  strength  to  be  self- 
supporting,  when  unfortunate  dissensions  arose  that  crippled 
it  long  after  those  connected  with  the  unpleasantedness  had  re- 
moved. The  church  next  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Van- 
der  Lippe,  who  came  direct  from  McCormick  Seminary,  and  re- 
mained about  a  year.  Desultory  supplies  were  secured  for  the 
next  year,  when,  in  April,  1895,  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  E.  E. 
Stringfield,  entered  upon  his  labors  with  the  church.  This  church 
gave  a  son  to  the  cause  of  foreign  missions  in  Chili  for  seven 


174  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

years — Rev.  W.  L.  Schmalliorst— and    Miss    Bertha   Miller,  who 

is  now  a  trained  nurse  in  China,  received  her  Christian  nurture 
here  Rev.  Ernest  Thompson  was  a  charter  member  of  this 
church.  In  its  infancy  the  church  was  cradled  by  ""Aunt  Mar- 
tha" and  "Uncle"  Robert  Hall,  brother  and  sister-in-law.  "Uncle 
Robert"  was  a  shining  example  of  whal  grace  can  do  in  its  efforts 
to  produce  a  good  man.  and  "Aunt  Martha"  was  an  unofficial 
pastor's  assistant,  who  had  a  mysterious  way  of  discerning  a 
Presbyterian  family  before  their  goods  were  unpacked.  This 
church  has  trained  a  number  of  other  efficient  Christian  workers 
who  are  serving  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  other  places.  Its  ca- 
reer has  been  conservation  amid  the  vicissitudes  of  a  changing 
•population.  Elder  Colin  T.  Cartel-  and  wife  left  by  will  an  en- 
dowment of  $1,000.  and  Mrs.  Jane  McDowell,  now  of  Long 
Beach,  California,  gave  the  first  $500  towTard  the  erection  of  the 
parsonage.  Miss  Carrie  Switzler  is  the  only  charter  member 
whose  name  is  still  on  the  roll. 

WEST  PLAINS  (HOWELL  COUNTY). 

Before  the  reunion  of  1870  the  New  School  ministers  (nota- 
bly Rev.  L.  J.  Matthews),  who  were  pre-empting  Howell  and 
Texas  counties,  seem  to  have  done  some  work  at  West  Plains. 
The  roll  of  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  does  not  recognize 
these  earlier  efforts,  but  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  indicate 
that  there  was  a  church  there  some  years  before  the  record  of  the 
organization  of  the  present  church.  Cf . :  "The  following  reso- 
lution was  adopted:  'That  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Church  Erection  write  to  the  Board  and  apply  for  permission  to 
sell  the  Peace  Valley  Church  building,  with  the  understanding 
that  the  proceeds  be  granted  to  the  church  of  West  Plains  to 
erect  a  building." — Minutes  September  7th,  1878. 

Permission  to  sell  the  church  was  granted  by  the  Board,  and 
in  April,  1879,  a  committee  was  appointed  so  to  do.  For  some 
reason  the  building  was  not  sold  until  1890.  by  which  time  the 
West  Plains  Church  had  a  commodious  house  of  worship.  In 
April,  1885,  Presbytery  took  cognizance  of  the  fact  that  there  was 
no  church  at  West  Plains  and  the  name  was  stricken  from  the 
roll.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  this  is  one  of  those  instances 
where  a  preaching  station  is  inadvertently  accounted  a  church 
without  the  formality  of  an  organization.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the 
roll  of  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  accords  with  the  sketch 
furnished  by  the  session  and  recognizes  only  the  organization 
effected  February  15,  1886.  On  this  date  Revs.  D.  P.  Put- 
nam. D.  D.,  and  E.  A.  Hamilton  organized  the  church  with  thirty- 
one  members.     B.  C.  Thomas.  Dr.  W.  W.  Watkins  and  Prof.  W. 


west  plains  rnrucu 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  175 

H.  Lynch  were  elected  elders.  For  some  months  the  Presby- 
terial  evangelist,  Dr.  Marks,  had  oversight  over  the  church,  and  he 
was  followed  by  Student  Glenroie  McQueen.  A  church  building 
was  erected  in*  1887  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  of  which  amount  the 
Board  of  Church  Erection  furnished  $1,000.  This  building  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson.  This  church  has  had  an 
unusually  efficient  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  a  strong  Sabbath 
school.  For  some  years  there  was  no  other  organization  of  our 
branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  a  hundred  miles  of  West 
Plains.  In  June,  1896,  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of 
West  Plains  began  to  co-operate  with  this  church,  and  the  union 
of  the  two  bodies  was  consummated  at  the  organization  of  the 
new  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  The  church  owns  a  commodious  par- 
sonage, is  lighted  with  electricity,  has  a  fine  organ. and  cathedral 
glass  windows. 

The  list  of  elders  before  the  union,  in  addition  to  those  uiven 
above,  contains  the  name  of  Dr.  H.  T.  Smith,  T.  J.  Whitmire,  L. 
P.  Anderson,  J.  H.  Shepard,  David  Carson,  J.  M.  Crabb,  G.  H.  Lee, 
W.  L.  Kilpatric  and  L.  B.  Harris.  Rev.  Woodhull  supplied 
the  church  in  1888.  He  has  been  followed  by  Revs.  J.  E.  Leyda, 
March,  1889,  to  August,  1894 ;  G.  H.  Williamson,  November,  1895, 
to  November,  1879;  W.  R.  McElroy,  February,  1898,  to  June, 
1901;  A.  B.  Brown,  March  to  October,  1902;  D.  B.  Whimster, 
April,  1903,  to  -  — ,  1907.  Of  these  ministers,  Revs.  W.  R. 
McElroy  and  G.  H.  Williamson  were  installed  pastors.  Now  that 
the  church  is  not  remote  from  other  churches  it  is  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  churches  in  the  Presbytery. 

MOUNT  VERNON  (LAWRENCE  COUNTY). 

On  the  11th  of  October,  1887,  Presbytery  appointed  a  com- 
mittee consisting  pf  Revs.  G.  H.  Williamson,  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D., 
and  Elder  William  R.  Gorton  to  organize  a  church  at  Mount  Ver- 
non "if  the  way  be  clear."  The  organization  was  effected  Feb- 
ruary 27th,  1888.  Rev.  Thomas  Marshall,  Synodical  Missionary, 
assisted.  Thirteen  members,  mostly  from  the  Ozark  Prairie 
Church,  were  enrolled.  In  1888  a  house  of  worship  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  of  which  the  Board  of  Church  Erection  fur- 
nished $1,000.  As  alluded  to  elsewhere,  this  house  was  erected 
for  school  as  well  as  church  purposes.  The  following  ministers 
have  served  the  church : 

Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  from  organization  to  September.  1891. 

Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield,  April,  1892,  to  April,  1895. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Gehrett,  April,  1896,  to  October,  1897. 

Rev.  R.  E.  L.  Jarvis,  October,  1898,  to  April,  1900. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Bright,  December.  1900.  to  April.  1903. 


176  Presbyteriamsm  in  the  Ozarks 

In  May,  1895,  the  church  began  to  co-operate  with  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  preparatory  to  union,  which  was 
effected  April,  1907.  The  membership  of  this  church  was  never 
large,  hut  it  made  an  enviable  record  for  benevolences  and  the 
support  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

MONETT   (BARRY  COUNTY). 

The  Presbyterial  committee  appointed  to  organize  a  church 
a1  Monett  consisted  of  Revs.  J.  G.  Reaser,  D.  I)..  (J.  II.  William- 
son and  Elder  John  Orr.  The  organization  was  effected  October 
27th,  1888,  with  seventeen  charter  members.  The  first  elders 
were  George  Shiels,  S.  A.  Chapell  and  S.  P.  Cowan.  Mr.  Chapell 
still  serves  the  church  in  the  eldership.  Presbyterial  oversight 
over  this  new  church  was  commendable.  Dr.  Reaser,  President  of 
Carthage  Collegiate  Institute,  and  Licentiate  W.  J.  Haydon,  in 
the  employ  of  the  Board  of  Publication  and  Sunday  school  work, 
were  appointed  to  minister  to  the  flock  until  the  spring  meeting 
of  Presbytery,  and  at  that'  time  Presbytery  appointedy  regular 
monthly  supplies  for  the  next  six  months.  This  church  has  ap- 
parently gone  on  the  theory  that  they  must  have  a  strong  preacher 
or  none,  and  no  church  in  the  Presbytery  has  more  steadfastly 
adhered  to  this  theory.  For  three  years  Dr.  Reaser  gave  them 
such  services  as  his  other  duties  would  permit.  Then  the  church 
employed  Rev.  Henry  M.  Campbell,  fresh  from  the  seminary.. 
The  veteran  church  builder.  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  came  to  them 
for  1898  and  1894  and  led  them  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship at  a  cost  of  $4000  of  which  $500  came  from  the  Board  of 
Church  Erection.  The  first  installed  pastor  of  the  church  was 
Rev.  J.  X.  McClung,  1895-1897.  Mr.  McClung  was  a  man  of  even- 
gelistic  ftrvor  and  spiritual  and  intellectual  power.  His  pastorate 
that  portended  so  much  for  the  church  was  terminated  adruptly 
when  he  sank  back  into  his  chair  while  delivering  a  sermon — 
prostrated  with  paralysis,  which  soon  took  him  to  his  reward. 

The  five  year's  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Templeton.  Ph.  D. — 
1898-1902 — was  the  longest  in  the  history  of  the  church.  Dr. 
Templeton  raised  the  church  to  self-support,  secured  a  valuable 
property  for  a  manse,  and  together  with  members  of  his  church 
'was  a  potent  factor  in  securing  for  the  city  a  railroad  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  organization  and  building.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  but  for  Mr. 
Stockton  of  this  church  that  valuable  institution  would  not  have 
been  reckoned  to  the  assets  of  Monett  for  years  to  come.  The 
church  has  ever  maintained  this  close  relation  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
that  now  enrolls  550  members.  Its  President  and  Secretary  are 
ruling  elders  of  this  church.  The  pastorate  of  Dr.  Templeton  was 
fo'lowed  by  that  of  Henry  Hepburn.  June.  1902-March,  1905.  Mr. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  177 

Hepburn  was  regarded  as  especially  strong  in  his  pulpit  work. 
Prom  age  to  youth  and  from  youth  to  age  in  their  selection  of  a 
minister  has  been  the  tendency  of  this  church.  Mr.  Hepburn  was 
followed  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  who  entered  upon  his  second 
term  of  service  with  this  church  with  a  head  more  hoary  yet  a 
vigor  but  little  abated. 

(OZARK)    (CHRISTIAN   COUNTY.) 

Organized  with  eight  members  Nov.  12,  1888;  committee  on 
organization,  Revs.  E.  A.  Hamilton.  J.  Shepard  and  Elder  J.  E. 
Kenton.  Jacob  Bell  and  Wm.  A.  Aven  were  elected  Ruling  El- 
ders. Rev.  G.  F.  Davis  supplied  the  church  for  a  time.  The 
church  was  dropped  from  the  roll  Sept.  16,  1891. 

SENECA  (NEWTON  COUNTY) 

This  little  church  on  the  border  of  the  state  was  organized 
in  1891  (enrolled  Sept.  15th)  by  Revs.  R.  W.  Ely,  J.  G.  Reaser, 
D.  D.  and  J.  A.  Gerhard,  with  19  members.  For  eleven  years  Mr. 
Ely  ministered  to  the  flock  in  Spiritual  things.  In  1896  a  house 
of  worship  was  reared  but  was  taken  off  of  its  foundation  in  the 
flood  of  May  the  thirtieth  of  that  year.  "The  little  band  was 
very  much  disheartened  but  in  a  little  while  things  began  to  move 
and  in  October  assisted  by  Dr.  Walker  the  Synodical  Missionary, 
we  (quotation  from  Mr.  Ely)  dedicated  a  handsome  little  frame 
church  building  free  of  debt  and  seating  250." 

Rev.  W.  N.  Crozier  and  others  have  ministered  to  this  church 
for  brief  terms  of  service. 

(WESTMINSTER,  CARTHAGE)   (JASPER -COUNTY) 

This  church  was  organized  by  Presbytery  at  a  Pro  re  nata 
meeting  August  7th,  1891.  The  petition,  signed  by  sixty-six  per- 
sons was  the  largest  of  its  kind  ever  presented  to  Presbytery  and 
stated  that  $1400  were  already  subscribed  to  meet  the  current 
expenses  of  the  church  the  ensuing  year.  Fifty-seven  were  re- 
ceived by  letter  and  a  few  on  profession  of  their  faith.  Wm.  D. 
Mateer,  Aaron  Myers,  R.  L.  Galbreath  and  S.  H.  Houser  were 
elected  ruling  elders.  The  church  was  a  vigorous  secession  from 
the  first  church  and  made  an  enviable  record  for  growth  and  in 
benevolences.  But  time  demonstrated  the  fact  that  two  churches 
of  the  same  faith  and  order  could  not  flourish  at  the  same  time  a 
block  apart  in  a  city  the  size  of  Carthage.  When  one  was  grow- 
ing the  other  was  either  losing  or  standing  still.  The  two  churches 


178  Presbyterianism   IN  the  (  )/..\RKS 

were  happily  united  July  '■">.  1!><>.'5.  The  following  ministers  serv- 
ed the  church  as  pastors  or  stated  supplies:  Rev.  D.  C.  Hanna,  F. 
G.  Knauer,  C.  A.  Stewart,  D.  I)..  W.  P.  Bishop,  Ph.  I),  and  G.  H. 
Williamson. 

(SOUTH  JOPLIN)   (JASPER  COUNTY) 

Enrolled  Sept.  16,  1891,  with  sixteen  charter  members.  The 
committee  on  organization  consisted  of  Keys.  J.  A.  Gerhard.  J.  G. 
Reaser,  D.  D.,  and  Elder  Fred  Allen.     Disbanded  Oct.  21,   1896. 

FAIR  PLAY  (POLK  COUNTY) 

Enrolled  Sept.  16.  1891,  with  seven  charter  members.  Rev 
G.  II.  Williamson  and  Elder  J.  D.  Abbe  organized  the  church.  It 
has  had  the  usual  vicissitudes  of  a  Presbyterian  church  in  a  vil- 
lage in  Southwest  Missouri.  For  the  most  part  the  church  has 
been  grouped  with  Bolivar.  Prior  to  that  grouping  Rev.  G.  H. 
Williamson  did  some  of  his  characteristically  effective  work  S. 
I).  Strain  in  the  eldership  of  this  church  has  perpetuated  the 
strain  of  the  Earlier  Strains  who  were  so  intimately  associated 
with  Presbyterianism  in  the  beginnings  of  Ozark  Presbytery. 

(LONE  ELM)    (JASPER  COUNTY) 

Another  of  the  Ephemeral  churches  in  the  mining  region 
whose  record  we  hope  is  more  permanent  and  comprehensive  in 
the  books  on  High  than  in  the  annals  kept  here.  The  church  was 
enrolled  by  Presbytery  May  2,  1902. 

FORDLAND  (WEBSTER  COUNTY) 

Organized  May  17,  1896,  by  Revs.  E.  D.  Walker,  D.  D.  Synod- 
ical  Missionary,  and  Elder  C.  W.  Likens,  with  13  charter  mem- 
bers. Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson  led  the  congregation  in  the  erection 
of  a  house  of  worship  (1896)  at  a  cost  of  $925.  The  Board  ot 
Church  Erection  granted  $250. 

The  church  has  had  the  services  for  short  periods  of  William 
Westwood.  a  student,  Revs.  G.  H.  Williamson.  Geo.  Clymer. 
Charles  Memott.  E.  J.  Nugent.  Local  Evangelist.  L.  B.  Harris  and 
Revs.  H.  A.  Tucker  and  J.  D.  White. 

(ASBURY)   (JASPER  COUNTY) 

Born  to  die  of  tender  years.  Organized  Sept.  27,  1896,  with 
18  members.     Stricken  from  the  roll  April.  1904. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  179 

A  group  of  Arkansas  churches: 

(JONESBORO.) 

(RIDGE  STATION.) 

MAMMOTH  SPRING. 

MOUNT  OLIVET. 

(MENA.) 

(HARRISON.) 

RAVENDEN  SPRINGS. 

BETHEL,     HARRIS,     TRACE  VALLEY. 

The  jurisdiction  of  Ozark  Presbytery  in  Arkansas  has  been 
referred  to  in  the  Preliminary  Word,  and  in  connection  with  the 
Eureka  Springs  church.  By  these  references  it  is  seen  that  Jones- 
boro  and  Ridge  Station  were  originally  in  connection  with  the 
Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  and  Mena  with  the  Presbytery  of  Choc- 
taw. These  churches  were  transferred  to  Ozark  Presbytery  in 
1899  and  1900.  Ridge  Station  was  dissolved  Oct.  27,  1894 ;  Mena 
and  Jonesboro  were  transferred  to  the  Presbyterian  church  U.  S., 
the  former  April  14,  1903,  the  latter  in  the  summer  of  1904.  The 
Harrison  church  was  organized  by  the  Presbyterian  Church  U. 
S.,  transferred  to  this  Presbytery  Oct.  21,  1903.  and  dismissed  to 
unite  with  the  C.  P.  Church  of  Harrison,  1906.  The  other  churches 
were  the  outgrowth  of  work  done  in  Arkansas  by  the  missionar- 
ies of  the  Board  of  Publication  and  S.  S.  Work.  This  Board  has 
expended  a  large  sum  of  money  in  Arkansas.  The  work  has  been 
of  a  pioneer  nature  and  the  soil  has  not  been  very  productive. 
The  Home  Board  followed  up  the  work  with  ample  appropria- 
tions. The  remoteness  from  the  Presbytery,  together  with  ad- 
verse local  conditions,  and  an  inhospitable  environment  hardly 
warrants  us  in  saying  more  than  that  we  hope  seed  has  been 
sown  that  will  produce  a  harvest  now  that  the  reunion  has  great- 
ly strengthened  our  church  in  Arkansas.  Ravenden  Springs,  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Rev.  A.  N.  Wylie,  is  in  a  measure  an  excep- 
tion to  the  above  statement.  The  work  there  has  been  as  pros- 
perous as  could  be  excepted. 

Harris  and  Trace  Valley  owe  their  existence  to  the  labors  of 
S.  S.  Missionary  Grundy.  The  Home  Mission  Board  was  able  to 
do  next  to  nothing  in  the  territory  they  represent. 


180  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

BURNHAM   (HOWELL  COUNTY.) 

This  Church  in  the  fruit  belt  of  the  Ozarks  was  received  by- 
letter  from  the  Pres.  of  La  Fayette  U.  S.  in  April  1892.  During 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  D.  B.  Whimster  at  West  Plains  it  was  group- 
ed with  that  church.  Previous  to  this  it  had  been  served  by  Rev. 
E.  J.  Nugent. 

BETHANY-JOPLIN  (JASPER  COUNTY.) 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Welty  the  First  Church  of 
Joplin  made  rapid  developments  in  city  missions.  A  Pastor's 
assistant  was  secured  and  placed  in  ■  charge  of  this  work.  Out 
of  one  of  these  missions  grew  the  Bethany  church  in  South  Joplin. 
The  committee  of  organization  consisted  of  Revs.  R.  W.  Ely  and 
H.  O.  Scott  D.  D.  and  Elder  F.  A.  Cushman.  The  church  was 
organized  with  42  members,  April  29th,  1902.  Mr.  Claus  Olandt. 
Mr.  Welty 's  assistant  supplied  the  church  while  a  candidate  for 
the  ministry  and  after  his  ordination  became  its  first  pastor. 
Mr.  Olandt  proved  himself  a  masterly  personal  wTorker  and 
brought  into  the  church  large  numbers  of  persons  of  diverse 
beliefs  and  accomplishments.  He  organized  and  directed  a 
thriving  brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip  and  the  sunday  school 
frequently  out  grew  its  quarters.  This  accounts  for  the  pictur- 
esque development  of  the  house  in  which  this  church  worships. 
It  was  originally  square  and  was  seated  with  opera  chairs. 
First  the  end  opposite  the  pulpit  was  taken  out  and  an  addition 
was  erected  which  was  divided  into  three  class  rooms  that  opened 
in  to  the  auditorium,  and  a  vestibule  at  one  corner.  At  another 
time  one  side  was  taken  out  and  an  extension  was  made  which 
served  as  a  prayer  meeting  room ;  in  the  right  angle  between 
the  vestibule  and  this  room  a  tower  was  erected  the  floor  of 
which  answered  for  a  new  vestibule  and  the  old  vestibule  was  con- 
verted into  a  sabbath  school  library.  Again  the  other  side 
was  taken  out  and  an  addition  comprising  three  class  rooms  was 
erected;  then  in  the  right  angle  between  this  and  the  first  addition 
a  room  was  built  for  the  pastor's  study.  Meanwhile  the  ground 
under  the  building  had  been  excavated  and  a  basement  was  fitted 
up  for  a  gymnasium  and  institutional  purposes.  Mr.  Olandt  was 
succeeded  in  the  pastorate  bv  Rev.  R.  L.  Kinnaird.  who  was  in- 
stalled June  6,  1906. 

(MOFFETT  AVENUE— JOPLIN)    JASPER    COUNTY. 

This  church  was  of  Cumberland  origin.    Its  struggles  for  ex- 
istence, heroic  though  they  may  have  been,  seemed  uncalled  for 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  181 

after  it  became  evident  that  the  two  bodies  would  unite.  Hence 
it  transferred  its  property  to  the  First  Church  of  Joplin  and  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  by  letter  September  14th,  1904.  At 
its  own  request  the  church  was  dissolved  the  27th  of  October,  that 
its  members  might  unite  with  the  First  Church. 

CRANE    (STONE   COUNTY). 

The  Crane  Church  was  organized  June  11th,  1905,  by  Revs. 
W.  L.  Hackett,  E.  L.  Renick  and  Synodical  Missionary  Rev.  John 
B.  Hill,  D..D.  Thirty-four  charter  members  constituted  the  or- 
ganization. Mr.  Renick  as  S.  S.  missionary,  and  Mr.  Hackett  as 
pastor  at  large,  had  done  considerable  work  there  prior  to  the  or- 
ganization. It  was  supplied  for  some  months  by  the  pastor-at- 
large,  Mr.  Hackett,  and  under  his  supervision  a  neat  house  of 
worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  Rev.  C.  W.  Smith  fol- 
lowed the  pastor-at-large  as  supply  of  this  church. 

CARTERVILLE  (JASPER  COUNTY). 

The  Carterville  Church  is  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  reunion.* 
After  the  churches  of  "Webb  City  were  united  the  United  Church 
offered  the  church  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  to  Carterville  for  a  Presbyterian  Church. 
The  citizens  of  the  place  purchased  a  lot  and  the  Board 
of  Church  Erection  provided  the  money  for  the  rehioval  of  the 
building.  The  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Shepherd,  Ph. 
D..  and  Rev.  Baldsar  Hoffman  July  1st,  1906,  with  thirty-one 
members.  R.  T.  Hurley  and  J.  C.  Sanders  were  elected  and  in- 
stalled ruling  elders.  Mr.  C.  W.  Sample,  a  theologial  student, 
was  instrumental  in  gathering  the  flock  and  ministered  to  them 
during  his  summer  vacation. 

NORTH  HEIGHTS— JOPLIN  (JASPER  COUNTY). 

This  church  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  mission  established  by  the 
First  Church.  It  was  organized  with  thirty  members  September 
14th,  1906.  A  number  of  the  charter  members  had  been  identified 
with  the  Moffett  Avenue  Church,  formerly  C.  P.,  and  the  house 
of  worship  belonging  to  that  body  was  transferred  to  the  North 
Heights  Church.  The  committee  on  organization  consisted  of 
Revs.  B.  M.  Shive,  D.  D.,  J.  F.  Shepherd,  Ph.  D.,  and  R,  L.  Kin- 
naird.  Rev.  Samuel  Wiley,  assistant  pastor  of  the  First  Church, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  new  organization. 


182  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE   OZARKS 

HOBERG   (LAWRENCE  COUNTY). 

Rev.  George  P.  Harbour  organized  a  church  at  Hoberg  Sep- 
tember 30,  1906,  with  twenty-eight  members.     A.  E.  Baugfa  was 

elected  clerk  of  the  session,  consisting  of  three  elders.  Mr.  Har- 
bour was  at  this  time  a  member  of  the  former  C.  P.  Presbytery 

of  Ozark,  or  Ozark  A.  as  it  was  now  officially  styled.  Hut  the 
ehurch  made  appliation  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  and  was  re- 
ceived  and   enrolled   October  25th,    1906. 

w E xt \v(  > irn  i  ( x E wt<  >x  county ) . 

The  last  entry  in  the  record  of  the  First  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  reads : 

"Addenda.— On  the  26th  of  April  (1907)  Revs.  J.  F.  Shep- 
herd and  E.  W.  McCracken  organized  a  church  at  Went  worth, 
Mo.,  with  twenty-two  members  and  ordained  and  installed  as 
ruling  elders  8.  H.  Griffin,  J.  W.  Robb  and  J.  H.  Hines.  In  ac- 
cordance with  instructions  of  Presbytery,  the  stated  clerk  en- 
rolled this  church  May  1st. 

"E.  E.  STRINGFIELD,  Stated  Clerk 

"Approved  October  18,  1907. 

"R.  T.  CALDWELL.  Moderator  of  Svnod." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  183 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SKETCHES  OF  MINISTERS 


N0te. — An  attempt  is  made  to  insert  these  sketches  in  chron- 
ologoical  order,  arranged  under  the  different  Presbyteries.  Where 
a  minister  served  under  more  than  one  Presbytery  his  name  is 
given  in  connection  with  the  Presbytery  under  which  he  first  serv- 
ed churches  in  our  territory.  The  sketches  are  at  best  fragmentary. 
The  space  given  a  minister  is  not  necessarily  in  proportion  to 
his  abilities  or  deserts,  but  is  determined  in  part  at  least  by  the 
permanent  impress  he  left  on  the  work  in  Southwest  Missouri, 
rather  than  his  work  elsewhere,  and  in  part  by  the  available 
interesting  material.  Perhaps  no  other  place  is  more  fitting  to 
acknowledge  indebtedness  to  Hill's  "History  of  Kansas  City 
Presbytery"  for  material  facts  concerning  some  of  tho  pioneer 
ministers  and  churches.  Strenuous  service  in  the  chairmanship 
of  home  missions  has  rendered  the  writer  at  least  partially  "im- 
mune" to  personal  criticisms,  and  therefore  he  ventures  to  insert 
sketches  of  present  members  of  the  Presbytery.  If  the  sketched 
feel  that  their  merits  are  not  fully  delineated  they  are  referred 
to  the  sentence  above  beginning  "the  space  given  a  minister," 
etc..  and  to  the  additional  fact  that  their  labors  in  the  Presbytery 
are  of  tco  recent  occurrence  for  the  historian  to  fully  weigh  their 
permanent  value.) 


184  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


MINISTERS    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HARMONY    AND 
THE  FIRST  OSAGE 


NATHANIEL  B.  DODGE. 

To  an  age  thai  is  tending  to  the  reunion  of  Christendom,  and 
that  looks  upon  "the  field"  as  the  wide,  wide  world.  I  present 
this  Congregational  founder  of  Presbyterianism  in  Southwesl 
Missouri,  this  stepping  stone  from  foreign  to  home  missions. 

Nathoniel  Brown  Dodge  Jr.  was  born  in  Winchester  X.  H., 
June  5,  1781,  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was  ordained  about 
1816  by  the  Congregational  council  in  Vermont.  In  1821  he 
organized  the  company  sent  out  by  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  to  found 
the  Harmony  Mission  to  the  Osage  Indians.  The  company  con- 
sisted of  ten  or  eleven  families  and  five  lady  teachers.  Starting 
from  New  York  "they  went  to  Philadelphia  by  sea.  thence  to 
Pittsburg  by  large  wagons.  At  Pittsburg  they  built  boats  to  go 
down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi.  They  went  up  the  Mis- 
souri in  keel  boats  to  the  north  of  the  Osage,  and  up  that  as  far 
as  they  could  cordell,  and  'till  the  stream  became  too  shallow  to 
go  farther."  It  took  them  four  months  to  make  this  journey 
and  some  of  their  number  died  by  the  way.  Mr.  Dodge  was  the 
superintendent  of  this  Mission  planted  in  Bates  county.  "In 
the  course  of  six  or  seven  years  the  Government  moved  the 
Indians  to  Neosho  in  what  is  now  Kansas,  to  which  place  he 
followed,  there  founding  the  Bondinot  Mission.  Subsequently  he 
returned  to  Missouri  and  organized  out  of  the  Mission  families 
tin1  Little  Osage  Church.  Thus  the  transation  was  made  from 
a  Foreign  to  a  Home  Missionary.  "His  first  commission  from 
the  A.  H.  M.  S.  was  April  25,  1836,  to  labor  in  the  vicinity  of 
Harmony  Mission  station."  Some  time  previous  to  that  he  had 
founded  a  Congregational  Church  in  that  neighborhood,  which 
was  undoubtedly  the  first  church  of  that  order  ever  organized 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  unless  the  Mission  Churches  were  of  that 
order."  To  the  Hoard  and  to  the  Missionaries  it  seemed  to  be  a 
matter  of  small  moment  as  to  whether  the  churches  were  of  the 
Congregational  or  of  the  Presbyterian  order.  The  Harmony  Mis- 
sion was  beyond  the  confines  we  are  considering  in  this  volume. 
But  the  Little  Osage  Church  was  in  Vernon  county.  At  its 
organization  this  church  adopted  the  Congregational  form  but 
it  soon  voted  to  change  to  the  Presbyterian  form  of  government. 


G.    A.    M.    RENSHAW 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  185 

Mr.  Dodge,  its  minister,  was  a  member  of  the  Harmony  Pres- 
bytery. 

On  the  third  of  September  1848  he  entered  into  rest,  and  his 
mortal  dust  lies  at  Little  Osage.  He  was  described  as  "The  best 
preserved  specimen  of  an  old-fashioned  New  England  country 
minister."  His  manners,  his  dress  and  all  together  suggested 
a  generation  passed  away — one  of  the  old  fashioned  type.  He 
was  unwilling  to  depart  from  the  ways  of  New  England  even 
among  the  pioneers.  A  sacramental  meeting  was  once  held  in 
the  church,  and  several  of  his  brethren  were  with  him.  A  num- 
ber of  persons  were  hopefully  converted,  and  his  brethren  urged 
him  to  admit  them  to  the  church  then ;  but  he  delcared  that  such 
was  not  the  custom  in  Vermont,  and  he  would  not  do  it.  Soon 
the  Methodist  came  and  held  a  meeting,  sweeping  in  all  his 
converts,  some  of  them  members  of  his  own  family,  into  their 
fold." 

Yet  "His  life  is  an  illustration  of  the  usefullness  of  effort 
for  good.  He  met  his  kindred  race  at  their  first  entrance  into  an 
important  section  of  the  country,"  and  he  stamped  upon  the 
virgin  soil  the  impress  of  a  man  of  God. 

EPHRAIM  PEAKE  NOEL, 

Born  in  Casell,  N.  C.  Oct.  4,  1804;  student  of  Maryville 
college;  Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Union  Sept.  26,  1833. 
The  labors  of  this  teacher  and  preacher  were  confined  largely  to 
other  parts  of  the  state.  But  he  organized  the  Hermon  and  Mt. 
Zion  churches  and  supplied  both  for  a  time.  Mr.  Noel  held  the 
first  Presbyterian  camp  meeting  at  the  Cave  Spring  camp  ground 
in  July  and  August  1841. 

GEORGE  ALEXANDER  MILTON  RENSHAW, 

Back  in  the  third  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century  a  poor 
widow  with  a  large  family  in  East  Tennessee  received  this  mes- 
sage :  "The  Lord  hath  need  of  him."  The  him  referred  to  was 
George  Alexander  Milton  Renshaw  and  the  sender  of  the  message 
was  none  other  than  Dr.  Isaac  Anderson,  President  of  Maryville 
college.  Accepting  this  as  a  call  from  God  through  his  servant 
the  next  morning  young  Renshaw,  clad  in  garments  produced 
from  his  mother's  spindle,  set  out  for  Maryville  college.  He  was 
accompanied  by  the  one  who  brought  the  message  and  they 
alternately  walked  and  rode  the  messenger's  mule.  Through 
the  considerate  kindness  of  the  trustees  and  friends  of  the  college 
and  with  a  little  aid  from  the  educational  society  Mr.  Renshaw 


186  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

completed  with  honor  his  collegiate  and  theological  course  and 
was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Kingston  October  1841. 
Not  long  after  this  he  came  to  Missouri  and  took  charge  of  the 
Mt.  Zion  church — the  church  thai  a  little  over  two  years  before 
had  been  organized  in  his  mother's  house.  There  he  remained 
until  the  day  of  his  death,  April  25th,  1857.  For  length  of  service 
in  one  church  in  Southwest  Missouri  this  term  h;is  been  exceeded 
only  by  the  services  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  I),  in  Carthage  and 
W.  R.  Fulton  in  the  Ebenezer  church. 

Dr.  Hill's  history  of  K.  C.  Presbytery  p.  46  says  that  Mr. 
Renshaw  "supplied  Mt.  Zion,  Weaubleau,  Bolivar  and  George- 
town." 

The  Assembly  minutes  represent  him  as  in  continuous  charge 
of  Mt.  Zion  and  in  addition  to  this  S.  S.  or  Harmony  1846, 
Springtieldl851-53,  Walnut  Grove  1854.  As  to  Dr.  Hill's  groupe. 
Waubleau  disappeared  from  the  roll  some  time  between  1843-46. 
In  1861  Rev.  Levi  Morrison's  list  of  churches  gave  this  account 
of  Bolivar.  "Never  existed,  I  think."  The  probability  is  that 
Mr.  Renshaw  peached  at  these  points  frequently,  but  not  regu- 
larly, for  it  is  said:  "He  went  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges 
and  compelled  them  to  come  in."  Mr.  Renshaw  assisted  by  Rev. 
A.  G.  Taylor  organized  the  Walnut  Grove  church  and  he  assisted 
Dr.  Artemus  Bullard  in  the  organization  of  the  Springfield  church. 
But  his  monumental  work  was  at  Cave  Springs.  There  he  built 
up  one  of  the  two  strongest  churches  in  the  presbytery  in  spite 
the  sending  out  of  colony  after  colony  and  then  he  erected  the 
house  of  worship  whose  claims  to  bring  "the  first  west  of  St. 
Louis"  are  discussed  in  the  proper  place.  Mr.  Renshaw 
bequeathed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  a  son  who  after  its  organi- 
zation in  1870  became  its  second  candidate  for  the  ministry. 

Rev.  Levi  Morrison  whose  hand  was  laid  on  G.  A.  M  Renshaw 
at  ordination,  and  who  wrote  his  obituary  said:  "Though  his 
humility  never  dared  to  speak  the  bold  language  of  the  Apostle, 
yet  day  by  day  he  lived  the  sentiments,  none  of  these  things  move 
me,  neither  count  I  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish 
my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  from 
the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God."  To 
meet  his  Presbytery  or  Synod  was  often  a  journey  of  four  hundred 
miles,  forth  and  back,  facing  the  heavy,  piercing  prairie  wind  by 
day,  and  lodging  at  night  in  such  shanties  as  he  might  find;  and 
returning  home  but  to  prolong  the  endurance  of  the  same  hard- 
ships the  year  round.  Bronchitis  neuralgia,  rheumatism 
announce  their  presence  and  we  find  in  his  diary  "I  must  take 
more  care  of  my  health  with  a  view  to  longer  usefulness.  I 
pray  God  this  may  not  degenerate  into  inactivity." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  187 

Thus  Brother  Renshaw  lived,  labored,  suffered  on — losing,  it  would 
seem,  the  sense  of  pain  in  the  joys  of  his  Master's  work — wearing  a  smile 
that  told  of  a  fountain  of  inward  kindness  and  comforts,  of  which  his 
modesty  seldom  dared  to  speak — seldom  daring  to  speak  of  his  successes, 
though  he  was  seldom  many  months  without  having  new  seals  to  his  min- 
istry. 

In  his  successes  there  were  sore  trials.  Twice  was  his  church  sadly 
reduced  by  emigration  to '  Oregon  and  California.  The  latter  occurred  but 
a  year  before  his  death.  The  homes  in  his  immediate  vicinity,  where  he 
had  counseled  and  cheered  and  fed  his  former  flock,  are  inhabited  by 
strangers.  That  beautiful  garden  of  the  Lord,  where  he  had  toiled  so 
patiently  and  hopefully,  is  swept  by  the  wild  spirit  of  adventure — that 
sirocco  of  the  west — and  presents  to  his  eye  but  a  few  scattered,  drooping 
stalks.  And  it  is  just  as  he  begins  to  see  signs  of  success  in  rallying  his 
broken  ranks  that  his  kind  Master  bids  him  cease  from  his  toils  and  go 
home  to  his  rest. 

He  was  in  his  place  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Osage, 
where  he  became  seriously  indisposed.  Rallying  a  little,  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  after  a  few  days  of  hopeful  health  he  was  severely  attacked  with 
a  complication  of  diseases — inflammatory  rheumatism  prominent — ana 
after  two  weeks  of  intense  suffering  he  fell  asleep  on  the  25th  of  April, 
1857,  suffused  with  such  smiles  as  only  become  such  a  servant  of  Christ, 
and  become  him  only  in  the  gate.  He  died  aged  forty-one  years.  In  all 
his  relations  as  a  man  and  a  minister  Brother  R.  was  a  model  man.  And 
after  all  we  have  said  of  him  we  feel  as  he  would  often  express  himself 
on  the  higher  themes  of  the  Saviour's  loveliness,  ''what  we  have  said 
seems  almost  slander. ' ' 

As  a  preacher  he  was  always  pertinent,  concise  and  simple.  More 
anxious  to  be  understood  than  admired,  I  doubt  whether  he  ever  attempted 
to  frame  an  eloquent  sentence  in  his  life.  Yet  he  was  often  eloquent — 
never  contemptible.  Excessive  distrust  of  his  own  abilities  put  him  upon 
constant  application  to  sacred  writers  and  the  more  evangelical  poets  for 
forms  of  idea  and  expression,  and  yet  you  would  feel  that  neither  indolence 
nor  pedantry  is  there,  but  that  the  speaker  has  such  a  reverence  for  his 
holy  theme  he  dares  trust  its  utterance  to  no  language  but  such  as  the  Holy 
Ghost  teacheth. 

*  *  *  His  faults,  if  faults  they  were,  were  such  as  few  men  are 
in  danger  of  imitating.  They  seem  to  us  but  the  shadows  which  a  bashful 
temperament   cast  over   his  Christian   humility. 

ISAAC  B.  RICKETTS. 

Educated  Maryville,  Term.,  rec.  Pby.  Hor.  '43  fr.  Pby.  Union: 
Sup.  Osceola  and  Waubleau,  '43-49;  Georgetown  '44;  Wright  Co. 
'52  ff ;  went  to  Texas,  '59,  undismissed."  (Hill's  Pres.  of  Kansas 
City  p.  46.) 

Wableau  found  a  peace  in  the  assembly  ministers  but  one  year, 
1843 ;  deponent  sayeth  not  what  his  labors  were  in  Wright 
county.  They  were  doubtless  abundant  and  effective.  The  seeds 
planted  and  the  young  plants  started,  watered  and  cultivated  by 
the  early  missionaries  were  many  of  them  uprooted  by  the  devast- 
ing  horror  of  Civil  war. 


1 88  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

( IHEISTOPHER  HRADSHAW. 

Like  the  subject  of  the  sketch  above,  Mr.  Bradshaw  was  edu- 
cated at  Maryville  college  the  alma  mater  of  Renshaw,  Morrison, 
Taylor,  Emerson,  Noel,  McMillan  and  possibly  others  of  whom 
sketches  are  given  herein.  Like  the  subject  of  the  previous  sketch 
also  his  labors  were  largely  in  that  part  of  the  Osage  Presbytery 
that  subsequently  fell  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Kansas  City.  For  a  time,  however,  he  supplied  Little  Osage  and 
Marmiton  churches,  which  fell  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  at 
the  reunion.  Mr.  Bradshaw  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Union  in  1844  and  was  a  missionary  of  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  in  Osage 
Presbytery  '46-60.  When  past  sixty  he  wrote  to  The  Home 
Missionary  (Sept.  1846)  "Our  Presbytery  held  its  spring  sessions, 
including  the  third  Sabbath  of  March,  on  the  Little  Osage,  Bates 
county  (which  then  included  Vernon  county ).  in  Brother  Dodge's 
church.  We  had  an  interesting  meeting,  and  some  evidence  of  the 
presence  of  the  Spirit  of  Ood,  attending  a  preached  Word.  On 
my  return  home  I  received  a  letter  from  a  commission  merchant 
at  Boonville  saying  that  they  had  a  box  subject  to  my  order. 
It  contained  some  articles  of  clothing  for  my  family  sent  from  St. 
Louis,  and  six  Sabbath  School  libraries,  sent  as  a  donation  from 
the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Society  to  the  far  west.  Since 
the  reception  of  these  libraries  I  have  organized  six  Sabbath 
Schools,  in  places  where  there  had  never  been  any  schools  before. 
In  organizing  these  schools  I  rode  more  than  2000  miles.  My  last 
two  months  have  been  a  busy  season.  I  preached  seventeen  times 
in  the  month.  But  I  esteem  it  a  great  privilege  to  finish  the 
evening  of  my  life  in  my  Master's  vineyard,  especial! v  in  feeding 
the  lambs."— (Hill's  K.  C.  Pres.) 

ISAAC  WILLIAM  KER  HANDY. 

Born  Dec.  14,  1815,  in  Washinton,  D.  C,  a  graduate  of  Jeffer- 
son college  and  a  student  of  Princeton  Seminary.  He  supplied 
North  Prairie  church  sometime  between  '45  and  '48. 

BEDFORD  RYLAND. 

"Educated  Maryville,  Tenn.,  Lie.  Oct.  3,  '32.  Pby.  Union; 
Mi'inb.  Osage  Pby.  Sup.  Bolivar,  Wableau.  Hermon,  North  Prairie, 
Georgetown;  d.  Oct.  16,  '45,  Bolivar,  Mo. 

WM.  H.  SMITH. 
William  H.  Smith  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  in 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  189 

1849  appears  to  have  been  the  first  man  ordained  by  a  Missouri 
Presbytery  who  labored  in  Southwest  Missouri.  Indeed  minis- 
terial ordinations  were  very  rare  in  the  first  Osage  Presbytery. 
A  native  of  New  York,  he  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1841  and 
at  Columbia  Theological  Seminary  S.  C.  in  1844.  "He  began 
work  in  Hickory  and  Polk  counties  in  1849.  In  one  of  his  letters 
from  that  field  he  gives  a  graphic  picture  of  conditions  then  pre- 
vailing in  this  part  of  the  country.     *     *     *     He  says: 

*  *  *  "The  gospel  has  to  contend  against  Antinomianism,  Two- 
Sedism,  Campbellism,  etc.  And  a  serious  hindrance  to  the  progress  of 
pure  and  undefiled  religion  is  an  uneducated  ministry.  Ephemeral  preach- 
ers are  numerous.  They  have  come  up  over  the  land  like  frogs  upon  Egypt 
and  seriously  injure  the  influence  of  an  educated  ministry.  Many  of  them 
are  great  lovers  of  whisky  and  dogegdly  oppose  all  benevolent  operations. 
*  *  *  Such  preachers  will  have  their  day  and  pass  away.  *  *  *  My 
two  churches  are  thirty-five  miles  apart.  At  one  I  preach  twice  a  month, 
at  the  other  once.  One  of  the  congregations  has  resolved  to  build  a  church 
this  year,  notwithstanding  their  feebleness.  Most  of  the  places  of  worship 
are  wretched  log   cabins." 

Mr.  Smith  seems  to  have  supplied  North  Prairie  Her- 
mitage and  Mt.  Pleasant  from  '47  to  '51  and  Little 
Osage  for  a  time  in  '60.  He  deeply  regretted  the  disintegration 
of  Osage  Presbytery  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  New  School  Work. 
To  the  Secy,  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  he  wrote  June,  1857: 
"I  cannot  be  sustained  without  aid  from  abroad,  and  unless  that 
comes  I  must  either  leave  the  state  or  resort  to  some  secular  oc- 
cupation." His  tenacity  is  suggested  in  a  letter  written  by 
another  which  also  gives  a  good  view  of  the  times : 

"Osage  Presbytery  cut  loose  from  Synod  last  fall,  as  you  probably 
know.*  The  spring  meeting  has  just  closed,  but  as  I  was  unable  to  attend 
I  am  not  informed  what  action  was  taken.  Still  I  can  give  you  the  status 
of  most  of  the  members.  Harlan,  Jones,  Bequa  and  myself  are  Old  School- 
bound.  Shall  all  of  us  unite  next  fall  with  our  churches.  Morrison  (L.  E.), 
Bicketts,  Taylor  and  McMillan  are  going  with  the  name  of  Osage  Presby- 
tery to  the  United  Synod.*  Morrison  of  Arkansas — I  am  not  posted  as  to 
his  drif tings.  Smith  stands  'neck  and  heels'  for  Cleveland,  i.  e.,  the  N.  S. 
Assembly.     But  I  am  told  he  is  going  to  leave  the  State." 

ALBERT  GALLATIN  TAYLOR. 

The  first  of  the  New  School  ministers  whose  labors  in 
Southwest  Missouri  had  their  origin  before  the  Civil  war  and  their 
termination  in  the  same  region  after  the  war  was  A.  G.  Taylor. 
Born  in  Tennessee  (Oct.  3,  1810)  and  educated  at  Maryville  col- 

*Written  March  25,  1859. 

**Morrison  took  the  minutes,,  too,  and  they  cannot  be  found  to  this 
day.     The  Presbytery  did  not  become  extinct  until  1861. 


190  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

lege  is  ;i  description  thai  applies  to  him  ;is  well  as  to  so  many 
others  of  his  Co-Presbyters.  Mos1  of  these  men  it  happens  were 
of  his  Co-Presbyters.  .Most  of  these  men  it  happens  were 
educated  during  the  Presidency  of  Anderson  and  their  Missionary 
proclivities  speak  volumes  for  the  school  and  its  President. 
About  1850  Mr.  Taylor  entered  Osage  Presbytery.  He  resided  al 
Bolivar  for  a  number  of  years  and  supplied  the  Hermon  church. 
With  this  was  grouped  for  a  time  Gasconade,  and  later  Red  Hill. 
In  1855  his  address  is  given  as  Walnut  Grove — Churches  Red 
Hill  and  Walnut  Grove.  This  group  appears  opposite  his  name 
as  Ion u  as  Osage  Presbytery  reported  to  the  Assembly.  He  is 
included  in  a  group  of  ministers  described  in  these  words:  "They 
preached  a  great  deal,  traveled  widely,  scattered  Bibles,  organ- 
ized churches,  held  camp  meetings  and  usually  farmed  a  little. 
Their  type  is  nearly  extinct  but  was  we'd  defined  and  highly 
serviceable  in  its  day.  At  the  disintegration  of  Osage  Presbytery 
Taylor  went  with  the  United  Synod.  Rev.  L.  R.  Morrison's  list 
of  ministers  in  1861  includes  this  notice: 

'"'A.  G.  Taylor,  W.  C.  Col.,  (Portem)  Walnut  Grove.  U.  S." 
However  he  was  a  strong  union  man  and  served  the  Spring- 
field church  at  intervals  during  the  war.  Before  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  Osage  Presbytery  he  and  John  M.  Brown  formed  a 
kind  of  provisional  Presbytery,  received  Enos  M.  Halberl  as 
candidate  and  arranged  to  license  him  next  Spring.  When 
the  Presbytery  was  reorganized  Mr.  Taylor  was  elected  modera- 
tor and  was  its  first  chairman  on  home  missions.  For  a  time 
he  served  as  Presbyterial  Missionary  and  later  as  colporteur 
but  the  infirmities  of  age  crept  upon  him  and  he  was  not  per- 
mitted to  do  much  active  work  after  the  organization  of  Ozark 
Presbytery.  He  remained  a  member  of  this  Presbytery  until 
his  death.  November  5th,  1895,  aged  85  years  one  month  and  two 
days.     His  last  residence  was  in  Phenix.  Greene  County. 

DANIEL  EMERSON 

The  names  of  A.  G.  Taylor  and  Daniel  Emerson  appear  in 
the  Assembly  record  of  Osage  Presbytery  the  same  year  1850. 
By  the  next  year  that  of  the  latter  had  disappeared.  He  was 
the  first  regular  stated  supply  of  the  Springfield  church.  His 
term  of  service  only  lasted  from  August  1849  to  May  1850. 
A  provisional  committee,  assembled  to  determine  as  to  whether 
or  not  it  was  best  for  him  to  remain  longer:  exhonorated  him  from 
the  charge  of  being  an  abolitionist,  but  decided  that  his  useful- 
ness in  that  church  was  at  an  end.  He  wTas  included  in  that  class 
of  ministers  described  in  the  preceding  sketch.  As  far  back  as 
1861  Rev.  Levi  R.  Morrison  said  his  residence  and  ecclesiastical 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  191 

connection  was  unknown.  The  subsequent  record  of  this  brother 
indicates  that  his  stay  in  Springfield  was  an  unfortunate  episode 
in  an  otherwise  fruitful  ministry.  For  some  years  he  taught 
school  in  West  Ely  and  Hannibal,  Mo.,  and  then  held  a  compara- 
tively long  pastorate  in  an  important  church  in  Delaware. 

LEVI  R,  MORRISON. 

The  man  who  probably  did  more  than  any  other  one  man  to 
check  the  stampede  of  the  New  School  churches  of  this  section 
into  the  Old  School  fold  was  Levi  Morrison.  He  was  the  last 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  first  Presbytery  of  Osage,  and  assisted  in 
transferring  the  remnants  of  that  Presbytery  to  the  United  Synod 
of  the  South.  Perchance  his  activities  render  possible  the  re- 
organization of  the  Presbytery  after  the  war.  From  1851  to  1861, 
or  later,  Mr.  Morrison  had  charge  of  the  North  Prairie  Church, 
grouped  for  a  couple  of  years  with  Osceola,  and  from  '58  on  with 
Mount  Zion  and  Springfield.  The  efforts  of  Mr.  Morrison  and 
the  session  to  keep  the  Springfield  Church  from  going  to  the  Old 
School  body  resulted  in  the  split  of  the  church  and  the  formation 
cf  Calvary  Church.  With  Mr.  Morrison  in  charge  of  one  party 
and  Mr.  Quarles  of  the  other  the  two  parties  worshipped  alter- 
nately and  amicably  in  the  same  building  for  some  time.  Denied 
the  privileges  of  a  college  education,  Mr.  Morrison  was  a  worthy 
type  of  what  I  conceive  to  have  been  the  intention  of  the  framers 
of  our  standards  when  they  provided  for  exceptional  cases.  By 
indefatigable  application  he  became  a  minister  of  no  mean  in- 
tellectual attainments.  The  records  of  his  labors  and  the  memory 
of  those  who  knew  him  bear  testimony  to  his  piety,  zeal,  ability 
and  strong  convictions — especially  on  the  national  issues  of  the 
clay.  A  grandson  of  one  of  his  right  hand  elders  in  the  Spring- 
field Church  remembers  how  piteously  and  tauntingly  the  sol- 
diers made  the  old  man  walk  over  rough  roads  and  through 
swollen  streams  to  Springfield  from  his  home  in  Hickory  County, 
a  distance  of  sixty  miles — a  march  that  no  doubt  shortened  his 
life  and  tortured  his  declining  days  with  pain.  Rev.  George  W. 
Harlan,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Morrison,  under  date  of  November 
19,  1900,  wrote  for  Dr.  Hill's  History  of  Kansas  City  Presbytery 
a  letter  from  which  I  quote: 

Of  these  brethren  Rev.  Joseph  V.  Barks  and  Levi  R.  Mor- 
rison were  very  efficient.  *  *  *  Rev.  L.  R.'  Morrison  had  charge  of 
the  North  Prairie  church,  Hickory  County,  during  his  entire  connection 
with  this  Presbytery  some  ten  or  fifteen  years.  *  *  *  He  remained 
at  home  faithfully,  ministering  to  the  flock  under  his  care  until  by  mili- 
tary authority  he  was  arrested  as  a  Southern  sympathizer,  taken  from 
his    family   and    held    as    a    prisoner.     He      was      above    the    average    as    a 


ig2  Presbyterianism  in  the  OzarkS 

preacher,  being  fluent,  clever,  and  forcible  and  at  times  quite  eloquent. 
Strong  in  his  convictions  and  very  decided  in  his  adherence  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Presbyterian  church,  he  preached  and  defended  the  Bame 
with  great  ability.  *  *  *  Abundant  and  diligenl  in  labors  at  home 
and  abroad,  he  was  instrumental  in  I, nil. ling  up  8  Btrong  church  at  North 
Prairie,  and  in  starting  an  academy  at  which  young  men  were  prepared 
for  college.  In  response  to  frequent  calls,  he  preached  al  vacant 
churches  and  mission  points,  and.  as  opportunity  was  given,  held  evange- 
listic services  which  were  greatly  Messed  in  winning  souls  to  Christ  and 
strengthening  feeble  churches.  His  labors  were  interrupted  by  the  Civil 
war,  and  lie  himself,  from  exposture  and  ill-treatment  as  a  prisoner,  was 
attacked  with  rheumatism  in  so  severe  a  form  that  he  was  a  cripple  for 
life,  and  could  not  walk  or  stand  erect;  so  that  when  he  preached,  which 
he  continued  To  do  as  long  as  he  lived,  he  was  seated  in  a  chair.  Thus 
tearless  and  faithful,  he  toiled  on,  meekly  enduring  the  trials  and  afflic- 
tions alloted  to  him,  until  the  end  came,  and  on  December  29th,  1867,  in 
the  63rd  of  his  age  being  released  from  his  labors  and  sufferings  by 
death,   he   was   called   to   his   reward." 

A   letter  written  by  Mr.  Morrison  to  Dr.  Timothy  Hill  is  so 
interesting  that  I  must  quote  it  in  part : 

"CROSS  TIMBERS,  Jan.  21st,  1861. 

*  *  *  "I  am  in  my  fifty-sixth  year;  was  born  in  1805  in  Mecklen- 
burg County,  N.  C.  My  father  was  of  Scotch  descent.  *  *  My  mother 
of  English  extraction.  Both  my  parents  were  pious  from  their  early  youth 
My  father  was  for  many  years  an  elder  in  the  church  in  Bedford  County, 
Tennessee,  whither  he  removed  when  I  was  ten  years  of  age.  In  my  fif- 
teenth year  it  pleased  the  God  of  my  fathers  to  turn  me  from  darkness  to 
light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.  My  views  of  the  beauties 
of  Christ  and  the  glories  of  redemption  gleaming  from  every  par*:  of  the 
Bible  and  catechism,  in  which  I  had  been  diligently  taught,  soon  settled  into 
the  form  of  a  prevailing  desire  to  preach  Christ  to  my  fellow  sinners.  But 
I  was  quite  illiterate,  and  my  father  *  *  was  unable  to  educate  me 
or  even  to  spare  me  from  the  farm.  So  leaving  the  case  in  the  hand  of 
Cod,  believing  that  if  he  intended  me  to  preach  he  would  open  a  way  for 
an  education  in  due  time,  I  toiled  on  at  the  plow,  trying  at  all  times  to 
acquire  scriptural  information  by  snatching  a  few  moments  to  read  some- 
thing as  material  for  thought  while  at  my  labor.  Then,  in  my  twenty-see 
onri  year.  with  one  dollar  in  my  pocket  ind  t.ha  blessing  <  f  the 
best  of  parents  as  a  fountain  of  courage  in  my  heart,  I  set  forth  on  the 
cherished  object  of  my  life,  with  Murry's  Grammar  and  all  beyond  a  terra 
incognita.  *  I  went  into  the  study  of  my  elder  brother,  Rev.  Silas 
H.  Morrison,  long  since  deceased,  who  had  worked  his  way  through  aa 
education  into  the  ministry  some  years  before.  Upon  his  removing  to 
Alabama.  I  went  to  the  Study  of  Rev.  Amzi  Bradshaw 
in  Wilson  County,  Tenn.,  with  whom  I  finished  my  Greek,  science  and 
theology,  having  studied  Latin  with  my  brother  (I  never  studied  Hebrew; 
Being  blessed  with  uncommon  good  health  and  constitution,  I 
was  able  to  endure  more  study  and  physical  toil  than  most  students.  I 
have  now  answered  your  question  with  regard  to  the  place  of  my  theologi 
cal  education  as  nearly  as  the  obscurity  of  the  case  permits — first  at  my 
father's  hearthstone  and  plowtail,  with  the  Bible  for  a  text  book,  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  Scott's  Family  Bible,  Burder's  and  Witherspoon's  Ser- 
mons for  Expositors,  and  father  and  mother  for  professors;  lectures  every 
Sabbath  evening  and  as  much  oftener  as  business  permitted;  second,  in  th"> 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  193 

study   of   Eev.   Mr.   B ,   a   log   cabin    10x14   feet,   which   has   long   since 

shared  the  fate  of  Goldsmith's  village  school  house,  where  a  vigorous, 
earnest  man  made  great,  strong,  pungent  sermons,  directed  my  reading, 
and  did  his  best  to  show  me  how  to  convince  men  of  sin  and  persuade  them 
to  Christ.  *  *  *  Then,  unincumbered  with  debt  and  the  same  amount 
of  money  (one  dollar)  on  hand  with  which  I  commenced  my  curriculum,  I 
was,  after  much  examination,  sent  forth  a  probationer  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Shiloh,  by  whom  I  was  ^ordained  one  year  afterward,  April  20,  1832. 

"As  you  ask  for  incidents,  and  I  have  spoken  of  two  memorable  dol- 
lars, let  me  tell  you  of  another,  of  which  you  may  tell  the  boys  as  an  in- 
stance of  providential  faithfulness  and  bounty.  The  first  dollar  I  ever 
could  call  my  own  I  gave  to  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  lest  I  should 
regret  it  I  bound  myself  that  the  next  dollar  I  might  have  should  go  the 
same  way,  and  it  did.  Now  I  begin  to  be  an  old  man,  have  never  been 
rich;  but  to  this  day  I  have  not  had  absolute  need  of  a  dollar  but  it  has 
been  at  hand  in  some  honorable  way." 

For  two  years  Mr.  Morrison  served  Spring  Creek,  Smyrna 
and  Ephesus  churches  in  as  many  counties  in  Tennessee  where  he 
says.  "The  Divine  blessing  descended  to  the  conversion  of  about 
seventy  souls  in  that  time."  After  two  years  in  Sparta  and  Mc- 
Minville  which  he  regarded  as  his  least  satisfactory  work,  he 
then  removed  to  Athens,  Tennessee,  for  an  eleven  years  minis- 
try.   Of  this  he  says : 

"Here,  I  think,  was  the  best  schooling  I  ever  had.  On  taking  charge 
at  A.  I  found  myself  surrounded  with  brethren  of  superior  advantages; 
many  of  them  with  large,  active  minds  and  noble  hearts.  Besides,  Athens 
happened  to  be  the  residence  of  quite  a  number  of  professional  men  of  the 
first  order  of  talents,  few  of  whom  were  connected  with  the  church  person- 
ally, but  all  of  them  through  their  families.  Now,  to  maintain  a  standing 
compatible  with  usefulness  among  such  brethren,  and  to  save  my  pulpit 
and  my  Master's  cause  f-rom  disrespect  before  such  a  community,  didn't  I 
have  to  work  and  study?" 

For  a  description  of  his  work  in  Missouri  see  the  sketch  of 
the  North  Prairie  Church,  to  which  I  add  another  quotation : 
"During  my  first  two  years  in  Missouri  I  preached  half  the  time 
to  the  church  at  Osceola  (distant  about  thirty  miles),  which  has 
now  gone  0.  S.,  and  is  served  by  Brother  Barks,  of  Warsaw.  It 
has  never  grown  much,  For  the  last  three  years  much  of  my  time 
has  been  devoted  to  the  churches  of  Mount  Zion  and  Springfield, 
in  Greene  County,  sixty  miles  distant  from  my  home.  At  the  de- 
cease of  Bro.  Renshaw,  nearly  four  years  ago,  these  churches 
were  discouraged,  especially  the  former,  where  he  resided,  which 
had  recently  been  much  diminished  by  emigrants  to  California 
and  Oregon.  My  monthly  labors  in  Mount  Zion  have  been  little 
more  than  sufficient  to  maintain  the  church  in  statu  quo.  *It  had 
nearly   doubled  its  strength,   by   conversions   and   immigrations, 

*This  evidently  refers  to  the  Springfield  Church,  not  Mount  Zion,  as 
it  would  appear. 


[94  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

when  within  the  lasl  year  ;i  respectable  minority  bolted  for  the  0. 
s.  and  divided  the  church.' 

john  McMillan. 

Rev.  John  .McMillan  appears  in  the  Assembly  minutes  as  a 
member  of  Osage  Presbytery  for  the  first  time  in  1856.  At  that 
time  he  was  in  charge  of  the  New  Hope  Church,  in  Arkansas, 
postoffice  Crooked  Creek.  Later  he  was  principal  of  North  Prai- 
rie Institute,  in  Hickory  County,  and  had  under  His  tutelage  lOnos 
M.  Halbert  and  one  other  young  man  as  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry. December  8,  1857,  Rev.  Joseph  V.  Barks  wrote:  * 
"And  first,  Those  who  depend  on  H.  M.  aid  in  this  Presbytery.' 
To  answer  this  question  I  refer  yon  to  our  minutes  of  the  As- 
sembly, all  our  ministers  with  the  following  exceptions,  viz:  A. 
Jones,  W.  C.  Requa,  J.  McMillan  and  your  humble  servant.  Broth- 
ers Jones  and  Requa  sell  pills  for  support.  Bro.  McMillan  teaches 
the  young  idea  to  shout  for  his  'hog  and  hominy.'  As  for  myself, 
I  have  been  supported  by  my  own  people  since  the  A.  II.  M.  Soc. 
gave  us  Paddy's  hint.    All  the  rest  receive  aid." 


MINISTERS    OF    THE    SECOND    PRESBYTERY    OF    OSAGE. 


JOHN  M.  BROWX. 

As  I  sit  with  pen  in  hand  there  rises  before  me  a  mental 
picture  of  a  Presbyterian  minister — tall,  straight,  dignified  and 
clad  in  the  conventional  habiliments  of  the  clergy.  The  negative 
was  made  on  the  sensitive  plate  of  memory  by  John  M.  Brown, 
pastor  of  the  Xeosho  Church,  who  visited  in  my  father's  home 
when  I  was  a  lad  eight  or  nine  years  of  age.  The  structure  above 
describes  all  I  do  remember  about  him,  and  perhaps  that  memory 
is  so  vivid  because  he  is  the  first,  or  at  least  the  second,  Presby- 
terian minister  of  whom  I  have  any  recollection.  My  earliest  rec- 
colleetions  of  the  clergy  cluster  around  two  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian ministers, — Revs.  Jerre  Ward  and  \V.  E.  Beasou,  -and 
then  come  Revs.  John  M.  Brown  and  W.  L.  Miller— a  quartette 
whose  ministerial  characters  ought  to  start  a  small  boy  out  with 
an  exalted  idea  of  the  nobility  of  the  calling.'' 

Rev.    George   H.    Williamson    has    built    more    churches    and 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  195 

probably  preached  more  sermons  in  Southwest  Missouri,  but  I 
doubt  if  Presbyterianism  in  this  section  ever  hud  the  equal  of 
John  M.  Brown  as  a  field  worker.  When  Ik-  was  no  longer 
needed,  as  a  soldier  in  the  service  of  the  Union  he  resumed  the 
official  duties  of  a  soldier  of  the  cross  and  arrived  in  Warsaw  De- 
cember, 1°65.  To  this  section  he  was  sent  by  District  Secretory 
Norton  and  did  more  than  any  other  one  man  to  reestablish  the 
work  that  issued  in  the  Presbyteries  of  Osage  and  Ozark.  In 
less  than  a  week's  residence  on  the  field  he  had  a  tolerably  clear 
concep4 ion  of  the  task  before  him,  and  the  following  month  wrote  : 

"These  desolations  cannot  be  restored  unless  we  have  help.  We  are 
straining  every  nerve — traveling  in  all  kinds  of  weather  and  over  all  kinds 
of  roads  for  long  distances — preaching  on  the  Sabbath,  visiting  and  talk- 
ing all  week;  faring  sometimes  like  John  the  Baptist  in  the  wilderness,  or 
worse;    and  yet   we   fall   far   behind   the   needs   of   the   field.     *     *  My 

circuit  *  *  *  measures  more  than  two  hundred  miles  around,  and 
this  must  be  traveled  at  least  once  in  four  weeks,  sometimes  once  in  two 
weeks — and  this  not  by  railroad,  but  on  horseback  or  in  a  buggy.  About 
all  that  we  can  do  is  to  say  'Good  morning'  to  a  church  and  then  'Good- 
bye.' *  *  *  I  believe  our  labors  will  be  largely  lost  unless  we  can 
have  help.    Can  you  send  on  a  man  immediately?  *     Now  is  the  time 

to  strike  in  this   region.     *     *  Next  week  I  expect   to  start  on   a  trip 

west  as  far  as  Fort  Scott,  Kan." 

A  month  later  he  had  organized  a  church  at  Clinton  and  re- 
habiliated  churches  of  Warsaw  and  Mt.  Zion.  Headquarters  were 
thereafter  made  at  the  latter.    About  this  time  he  wrote : 

"What  about  these  twenty  counties  in  my  field?  It  seems  to  me  this 
matter  is  getting  rather  serious.  And  we  don't  want  any  but  first  rate 
men  of  good,  natural  abilities,  of  apostolic  zeal,  and  large  discretion,  men 
that  are  not  afraid  of  self-denial  and  hard  work,  men  that  expect  to  suc- 
ceed. And  such  men  will  succeed.  Large  patience,  too;  is  necessary.  * 
The  labor  is  with  individuals  as  well  as  communities.  And  these  individ- 
uals are  not  all  living  side  by  side  in  nice  litle  towns,  with  dry,  clean 
sidewalks;  but  they  are  scattered  all  over  the  country.  In  one  church 
which  I  have  explored  the  members  are  spread  over  fifteen  miles  square. 
I  have  visited  all  but  three  members  and  spent  from  three  to  twenty-four 
hours  with  each  family.  This  is  immense  labor,  but  the  work  cannot  well 
be  done  in  any  other  way.  But  I  need  not  tell  you  these  things,  for  you 
know  all  about  it  by  experience.     But  can't  you  hurry  on  that  man?" 

In  October,  1867,  Dr.  Norton  wrote  concerning  Mr.  Brown: 

"This  brother  is  performing  a  great  work  here  and  all  through  South- 
west Missouri.  His  labors  are  incessant.  One-half  of  his  Sabbaths  he 
spends  with  Mount  Zion,  and  one  Sabbath  with  the  new  church  at  Osceola, 
fifty  miles  north.  He  makes  also  long  tours  in  various  directions.  Besides 
he  is  the  chief  planner  of  the  new  church  edifice,  and  the  chief  executive 
officer  in  getting  it  forward.  At  the  same  time  he  is  building  a  house  for 
himself,  in  which,  in  its  unfinished  state,  he  entertained,  during  the  whole 
meeting,  all  the  ministers  of  the  Presbytery,  with  the  wives  and  children 
of  two  of  them." 

The  (hurch  edifice  referred  to  was  the   one  in   which   the 


196  Pri-sbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Mount  /ion  Church  still  worships.  Preparations  for  bnilding 
were  begun  in  the  winter  of  '67  and  the  house  was  dedicated 
Aii-iisi  22,  1869.  Shortly  after  this  Mr.  Brown  relinquished  'his 
work  and  took  charge  of  the  church  of  Neosho.  This  had  been  an 
Old  School  church,  and  it  thus  came  into  the  union  with  a  New 
School  pastor.  From  its  organization  to  the  time  of  the  union 
Mr.  Brown  was  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  second  Presbytery  of 
Osage.  At  three  of  its  nine  sessions  he  was  its  Moderator,  and  for 
a  like  number  of  times  was  its  pastor  host.  For  two  years  he 
served  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  as  Presbyterial  missionary,  an 
office  which  was  discontinued  in  September.  1874,  on  account 
of  the  heavy  burden  of  debt  borne  by  the  Home  Board.  That 
Mr.  Brown  was  a  true  Presbyterial  missionary  before  he  bore  the 
title  will  be  seen  by  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written 
to  Dr.  T.  Hill  December  31,  1868 : 

••You  ask  about  my  field.  Well,  it  is  160  miles  long  and  100  miles 
wide.  Thus  you  see  'no  pent-up  Utica'  restrains  my  powers.  I  preach 
three-fourths  of  my  time  to  two  churches;  the  remaining  one-fourth  I  skim 
over  my  field  looking  up  Presbyterian  members,  preaching  and  organizing 
churches.  Brother  Matthews,  a  licentiate  of  our  Presbytery,  is  my  only 
assistant.     *  *     Last  week  I  returned  from  a  two  weeks'  trip   to   the 

eastern  part  of  my  field.  Traveled  on  horseback;  reached  a  point  120  miles 
away  from  home;  rode  300  miles;  preached  eight  times;  administered  the 
sacrament  and  received  several  members  into  our  little  church  at  White 
Eock  (Texas  County);  explored  Howell  County;  found  Presbyterians  to 
constitute  a  church,  and  heard  of  several  other  points  waiting  for  a  min- 
ister to  visit  them.  Bro.  Matthews  was  with  me.  One  of  the  points  named 
above  is  Lebanon,  a  growing  town  on  the  Southwest  Railroad.  I  expect  to 
visit  that  place  in  January,  and  hope  to  organize  a  church  soon.  They  are 
crowding  this  Southwest  Railroad  through,  and  in  less  than  two  years  there 
will  be  a   dozen  stations  needing  attention.  *     Of   course  our  little 

field  will  then  become  a  big  field.  Where  are  we  to  find  the  men  to  enter 
in  and  possess  this  land?  In  the  western  part  of  my  field  are  the  counties 
of  Vernon,  Barton,  Dade,  Cedar  and  Polk,  without  a  single  Presbyterian 
Church*;  but  there  are  Presbyterian  families  scattered  over  them,  and 
churches  might  be  organized  had  we  the  men  to  do  the  work.  But  as  we 
have  not  a  single  'good,  easy'  place,  I  fear  the  men  will  be  slow  in  coming. 
*  Now,  Bro.  Hill,  if  you  will  visit  us  this  winter  or  spring,  I  will 
furnish  conveyance  and  we  will  go  together  across  this  wide  field.  I  will 
meet  you  at  Butler  or  Clinton.      (This  invitation  was  accepted.) 

"As  to  a  box  of  clothing,  one  in  the  spring  would  not  come  amiss;  but 
I  could  hardly  ask  it,  as  we  received  a  box  of  second-hand  clothing  in  Sep-, 
tember,  which  will  help  us  through  the  winter.  And  yet,  if  the  truth  must 
be  told,  we  do  need  such  aid,  for  within  fifteen  months  I  have  given  three 
hundred  dollars  to  build  churches,  help  poor  students  and  the  cause  gen- 
erally. This  has  drawn  so  heavily  on  my  salary  of  $900  that  I  find  it  very 
difficult  to  support  my  family  of  eight  on  the  remainder.  With  this  state- 
ment I  will  leave  the  matter  altogether  with  you.'' 

*This,   of  course,   refers  only  to   the  New  School. — Ed. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  197 

WILLIAM  S,  MESSMER 

With  apologies  to  one  of  my  esteemed  eopresbyters,  William 
S.  Messmer  is  remembered  as  "the  horse  man"  among  the  min- 
isters in  Southwest  Missouri  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Of  himself 
he  wrote:  "For  the  past  three  months  our  home  has  been  in 
the  saddle,  and  our  study  the  woods  and  prairies  of  Benton  and 
Henry  counties.  Availing  ourselves  of  the  privileges  granted 
(that  of  prospecting  for  ourselves)  we  have  presented  our  claim, 
driven  our  stakes  and  settled  our  boundaries  for  the  year  ending 
September  1,  1867,  not  without  earnest  prayer  that  the  Head  of 
the  church  would  'enlarge  the  place  of  our  ten  I.  lengthen  our 
cords,  and  strengthen  our  stakes.'  "  After  describing  his  Meld 
he  says:  "This  program  calls  for  fourteen  to  sixteen  public 
services  and  eight  social  services  per  month,  involving  at  least 
300  miles  of  travel." 

Mr.  Messmer  preached  the  opening  sermon  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Osage — Cave  Springs,  Mo., 
April  26,  1866.  At  that  meeting  he  reported  that  he  had  organ- 
ized a  church  at  Prairie  Grove,  consisting  of  eleven  members,  to 
be  known  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield."  (The 
Bellview  Church.)  For  a  time  he  served  this  church,  but  he  left 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  before  the  reunion. 

ENOS  M.  HALBERT. 

The  first  man  licensed  and  the  first  man  ordained  by  the 
Second  Presbytery  of  Osage,  and  probably  the  first  Presbyterian 
minister  educated  by  a  Presbyterian  institution  in  Southwest 
Missouri,  was  Enos  M.  Halbert.  In  his  father's*  house,  nine 
miles  northeast  of  Hermitage,  Hickor^  County,  was  organized 
by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  dated  February  14,  1845. 
Judge  Halbert  was  a  man  of  commanding  influence  in  civic  and 
ecclesiastical  circles.  In  the  Presbyterian  Reporter  for  February, 
1866,  is  a  letter  by  Rev.  John  M.  Brown,  which  gives  an  account 
of  the  North  Prairie  Church,  and  says:  "Dr.  Halbert,  the  pa- 
triarch of  the  neighborhood  and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  this 
section,  together  with  his  son,  are  elders  in  the  church.  He  (Dr. 
H.)  and  four  sons  were  in  the  Union  Army  as  soldiers.  One  of 
these  sons,  not  the  elder,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  had  been 
studying  some  years  with  the  ministry  in  view,  and  under  the 
care  of  the  old  Presbytery  of  Osage.  He  was  expecting  to  be 
licensed  at  their  meeting  in  the  spring  of  1861." 

This  refers  to  Enos  M.  On  account  of  the  war  he  was  not 
*Sometimes  called  Dr.,  sometimes  Judge,  Joel  B.  Halbert. 


I98  PRESBYTHRI AMSM    IN    THE    OZARKS 

licensed  utili]  April  2S.  ls(i(i,  ;m<l  was  ordained  October  13,  1867. 
"He  said  of  himself  thai  bis  education  was  obtained  al  North 
Prairie  Institute,  Hickory  County,  Mo.,  Rev.  John  McMillan 
principal;  and  thai  his  theological  studies  were  pursued  'on 
horseback  and  at  home,  teaching  self,  S.  \V.  Mo.'  "  "From  1843 
to  1866  lie  was  a  'farmer,  miller,  student,  soldier,  merchant,  in 
S.  W.  Mo.'  '  For  a  time  Mr.  Halbert  labored  in  the  territory 
thai  was  assigned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  at  the  reunion.  In 
.May.  1ST'),  he  began  his  ministry  in  the  Mount  /ion  Church, 
which  he  brought  to  self-support  the  27th  of  November.  1875 
During  his  ministry  here  Mr.  Halbert  preached  a  historical  ser- 
mon from  which  I  have  received  valuable  help  in  compiling  the 
sketch  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church.  In  connection  with  this  church 
he  also  served  the  Bell  view  Church.  He  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Larned  March  10,  1881.  Honorably  retired,  he  is 
spending  the  twilight  of  his  days  in  the  State  of  his  adoption,  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Solomon. 

LEONIDAS  JEWELL  MATTHEWS. 

To  Leonidas  J.  Matthews  belongs  the  distinction   of  being 

the  only  minister  who  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  in  1870,  continued  in  that  Presbytery  throughout  its 
ecclesiastical  existence  and  entered  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark 
at  its  organization  in  1907.  Like  the  subject  of  the  preceding 
sketch.  Mr.  Matthew's  was  a  Tennessean  by  birth  and  was  licensed 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Osage,  lie  was  licensed  Octo- 
ber 13,  1867,  and  ordained  April  4th,  1869.  What  education  he 
had  was  secured  by  private  study.  For  about  eight  years  after 
his  ordination  Mr.  Matthews  served  as  a  home  missionary  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  Presbytery.  His  roving  commission  re- 
minds one  of  the  prelude  to  the  first  epistle  of  Peter.  It  was 
Leonidas,  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  the  Presbyterians  scat- 
tered throughout  Howell,  Texas.  .Wright,  Laclede  and  Pulaski 
counties.  On  account  of  throat  trouble  Mr.  Matthews  gave  up 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  in  September.  1877.  became  an  an- 
nuitant of  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief. 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.   Timothy  Hill,  dated    March.   6,    1871,   Mr. 
Matthews  wrote : 

"This  is  my  field  of  labor — one  of  the  most  destitute  portions  of  coun- 
try within  the  bounds  of  our  Presbytery.  This  whole  field  is  a  new  field. 
It  has  never  been  occupied  by  Presbyterians  until  a  little  over  three  years 
ago,  and  very  poorly  since  that  time.  And  then  a  great  deal  of  the  other 
preaching  is  of  the  very  poorest  sort,  containing  little  or  no  fire  except  that 
which  is  kindled  against  Presbyterians.  When  T  first  came  into  this  coun- 
try there  was  as  much  fuss  made  about  a  Presbyterian  preacner  as  there 
would  have  been  about  a  monkey.     You   might   hear  it  said   upon   one   hand. 


Presbyterianism  in. the  Ozarks  199 

'Why,  they  are  a  queer  kind  of  folks;  see  they  stand  up  when  they  pray, 
and,  worse  than  that,  they  won't  preach  unless  they  get  pay  for  it.'  *  *  * 
I  am  all  alone,  with  only  a  little  band,  and  they  are  scattered  over  a  ter- 
ritory of  more  than  twelve  hundred  square  miles.  What  must  I  do?  What 
can  I  do?  The  flock  is  starving  for  the  bread  of  life  and  the  cry  comes  in 
from  every  quarter,  'When  will  you  come  and  preach  for  us?  A  church 
might  be  organized  at  West  Plains  and  another  near  Salem  (South  of  this), 
but  who  will  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life?  The  nearest  Presbyterian 
minister  to  me  is  at  Lake  Spring,  about  thirty  miles  north  of  this,  though 
I  have  never  seen  him.  He  does  not  belong  to  this  Presbytery.  The  next 
at  Marshfield,  seventy-five  miles  west;  next  at  Springfield,  one  hundred 
miles  west.  There  is  no  one  south  of  me  that  I  know  of.  A.  G.  Taylor, 
J.  M.  Brown,  E.  M.  Halbert,  A.  T.  Norton  and  Brother  Fenton  have  labored 
some  on  this  field  during  the  time  I  have  been  here." 

Mr.  Matthews'  last  services  were  given  the  churches  of  Buf- 
falo and  Conway. 


ANTE-BELLUM   OLD   SCHOOL  MINISTERS 


VALENTINE  PENTZER. 

The  first  of  the  Old  School  -ministers  who  labored  consecu- 
tively in  our  bounds  was  Valentine  Pentzer.  The  following  sketch 
of  his  life  was  written  by  his  son,  T.  M.  Pentzer,  of  Spring- 
field, Mo. : 

"Valentine  Pentzer  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.  When  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  at  the  close  of  the  religious  revival  in  the  old  frame 
church  on  George's  Creek,  where  Rev.  A.  G.  Fairchild  was  pastor,  he  with 
thirty  others  united  with  the  church.  Of  this  number,  three  began  a  course 
of  education  as  candidates  for  the  ministry.  They  were  James  Smith, 
Valentine  Pentzer  and  Jacob  Pentzer,  brothers.  *  *  *  Valentine  Pent- 
zer was  educated  at  Jefferson  College.  *  *  He  had  in  a  large  meas- 
ure to  work  his  way  through  college,  helped  and  encouraged  by  Rev.  A.  G. 
Fairchild,  in  grateful  memory  of  whom  he  afterwards  named  one  of  his 
sons.  He  was  licensed  by  Redstone  Presbytery  probably  in  1834.  Soon 
after  he  went  to  Illinois.  *  *  *  (Shortly  after  this  he  moved  to)  Pal- 
myra, Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  teacher  in  Marion  College,  and 
while  so  employed  there  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  M.  Owen.  *  *  * 
After  teaching  there  about  two  years  he  was  sent  by  the  Presbyterian 
Board  to  Southwest  Missouri  as  a  home  missionary,  and  located  in  Jasper 
County,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sarcoxie,  then  one  of  the  few  postoffices  in  that 
part  of  the  State.  He  made  his  home  in  the  Mosley  Settlement,  and  one 
of  his  ardent  friends  and  supporters  was  Thomas  Mosley,  to  honor  whom 
he  named  one  of  his  sons,  the  writer  of  this  setch.  Here  he  worked  with 
untiring  energy  until  June,  1844,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  church  at 
Greenfield  and  moved  to  that  place,  going  horseback,  day  or  night,  over  the 
hills  and  rocks  of  Missouri,  where  the  roads  in  that  then  wilderness  coun- 
try were  often  only  bridle  paths.     His  new  field  of  labor     *     *     *     covered 


200  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

m   large   territory   in    Dade   and   adjoining  counties,  often  work- 

ing with  other  denominations  in  their  camp  meetings  and  revivals.  A  brief 
record  he  lefl  shows  thai  he  preached  in  Springfield,  Sarcoxie,  Bolivar, 
Bowers'  Mill  ami  nt  ninny  private  homes.  He  was  also  employed  as  prin- 
cipal (if  Greenfield  Academy,  then  one  of  the  few  schools  for  higher  educa- 
tion in  Southwest  Missouri.  He  w;is  a  charter  member  of  the  Washington 
Masonic  Lodge  at  that  place,  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  pari  of  the  State.  In 
the  fall  of  is  17  lie  left  C reen field  for  Madison  County,  Til.,  going  by  the  way 
of  Mount  Vernon,  where  his  wife's  mother  and  family  lived,  staying  the 
last   night   at    the    home   of   his   devoted    friend,   William    Orr.  *     His 

reasons  for  leaving  Missouri  were  that  he  tin-ought  Illinois  offered  Letter 
educational  advantages  for  his  children,  of  whom  he  now  had  five,  and 
he  did  not  wish  to  bring  up  his  children  in  a  slave  State.  He  was  earnest 
and  outspoken  in  his  condemnation  of  slavery  and  was  sometimes  called  an 
'Abolitionist,'    a    term    he   considered    no   disgrace.  (He)    died    No- 

vember 9,  L849.  He  finished  his  last  preaching  service  sitting  in  a  chair, 
asking  the  indulgence  of  his  congregation  because  he  felt  two  unwell  to 
stand     lorgi  p.  He    died    in    the    harness    when    only    thirty-eight 

years  of  age.  His  widow  and  six  children  *     were  kindly 

cared  for  by  true  and  devoted  friends.  When  the  war  came,  as  he  believed 
it  would  over  the  slavery  question,  three  of  his  sons  served  in  the  Union 
Army.  Their  doing  so  would  have  no  doubt  received  his  hearty  approval 
had  he  been  living,  and  he  would  probably  have  served  with  them  in  some 
capacity  had  he  been  living  and  physically  able." 

X.  B. — On  coming  to  Southwest  Missouri  Mr.  Pentzer  placed 
himself  under  care  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  and  was  or- 
dained by  that  body.  His  work  at  Greenfield  was  probably  his 
first  field  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  son  had  forgot  ten  this. 
but  such  we  find  to  be  the  case. 

The  writer  of  the  above  had  forgotten  that  his  father  was 
ever  officially  connected  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  Certain  statements  in  manuscript  sermons  that  he 
showed  me  led  me  to  infer  as  much.  From  the  minutes  of  the 
C.  P.  Presbytery  of  Ozark  I  learned  that  Air.  Pentzer  was  re- 
ceived by  that  body  as  a  candidate  for  the  minisry  October  25, 
1839 ;  that  this  reception  was  by  letter  from  the  Presbyterian 
Presbytery  of  St.  Charles ;  that  he  was  licensed  and  ordained  by 
the  Cumberland  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  He  was  ordained  Decem- 
ber 5th,  1841,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  H.  M.  Ritchey,  in  Newton 
County,  and  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery — probably  to 
the  Presbyterian  Presbytery  of  Lafayette — April   3d,  1844. 

JOHN  McFARLAND. 

"0  though  oft   depressed  and  lonely. 

All  my  fears  are  laid  aside 
If  I  but  remember  only 

Such  as  these  have  lived  and  died." 

"Put  off  thy  .shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon 
thou  standest  is  holy  ground.'' 


WM.  OKR 


JENNIE  ORR 


JOHN  McPARLAND 


MARY  McPARLAND 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  201 

The  emotions  that  conic  over  me  as  I  attempt  to  write  a 
sketch  of  John  MeFarland  are  best  described  by  the  words  of  the 
poet  and  the  words  of  inspiration. 

From  1848  to  1860  he  was  stated  supply  of  the  Ebenezer 
Church.  He  served  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  as  Pres- 
byterial  evangelist  until  that  Presbytery  was  succeeded  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ozark,  in  which  he  held  the  same  position  until  he 
was  laid  aside  by  the  infirmities  of  age.  He  had  presided  at  the 
organization  of  both  of  these  Presbyteries  and  each  oj  them  had 
elected  him  as  its  first  Moderator.  The  sterling  qualities  of  the 
man  and  his  wide  influence  in  moulding  early  Presbyterianisn 
in  Southwest  Missouri  led  me  to  insert  in  full  an  article  published 
in  the  Interior  September  5,  1872.  A  sketch  of  his  wife  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  his  volume : 

A  MEMORIAL. 

(By   Rev.   .W.   Pinkerton.) 

Rev.  John  MeFarland  was  born  April  29,  1816,  near  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Penn.,  and  died  July  21,  1872,  on  his  farm  near  Greenfield,  Mo.  He 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  mother  belonged  to  the  family  of  Archi- 
bald Campbell,  one  of  the  Scotch  worthies  who  was  beheaded  for  his  faith 
during  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  His  early  training  was  of  that  type  which 
prevailed  in  Presbyterian  families  thirty  or  forty  years  ago.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  became  a  subject  of  grace,  united  with  the  Beulah  Church, 
and,  while  yet  a  youth,  was  chosen  by  his  brethren  to  the  office  of  ruling 
elder.  He  entered  Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  graduating  class  of  1844.  He  studied  theology  at  Alleghany,  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Blairsville  Presbytery  in  1846,  and  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri  in  1849. 

HIS  FIELD. 

In  the  fall  of  1848  he  came  West.  At  St.  Louis  he  called  on  Dr.  Potts 
for  information  as  to  a  field  of  labor.  The  Doctor  asked  him  what  sort  of 
a  field  he  wanted.  '  The  field  where  I  am  needed  most, '  was  the  prompt 
reply.  His  footsteps  were  directed  to  Southwest  Missouri,  where  for  nearly 
a  (quarter  of  a)  century  he  lived  and  labored  in  the  Master's  service. 
During  half  of  this  time  he  was  the  only  Old  School  Presbyterian  min- 
ister south  of  the  Osage  River.  His  field  was  vast  and  needy.  In  occupy- 
ing it  our  brother  bravely  endured  the  winter's  cold  and  the  summer's 
heat.  He  knew  well  the  trials  of  the  frontier  work.  Like  his  Master,  he 
went  about  doing  good. 

PREACHER. 

Our  brother  was  not  a  great  preacher  in  a  popular  sense.  He  was  what 
is  far  better — a  godly  minister.  In  one  of  his  preaching  tours  many  years 
ago  he  preached  on  a  Sabbath  evening  in  the  county  seat  of  an  adjoining 
county.  Among  his  hearers  was  a  prominent  man  of  the  county.  It  was 
the  privilege  of  the  writer  to  know  this  man  in  after  years  and  to  visit 
him  many  times  on  his  death  bed.  He  spoke  repeatedly  of  this  sermon. 
Said  he:     "It  was  not  a  great  sermon,  but  there  was  such  earnestness  dis- 


202  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

played  that  T  felt  that  I  was  in  the  presence  of  a  - I  man,  and  his  preach- 
ing came  home  to  me  with  power.  I  shall  never  lose  tin-  influence  of  ih.it 
sermon. " 

The  strength  of  our  brother  was  not  so  much  in  his  power  to  attract 
and  hold  an   audience  as  in  the  earnestness  and  sincerity  of  the   man. 

CITIZEN. 

He  was  greatly  esteemed  as  a  citizen.  During  the  late  Civil  War.  which 
laid  waste  almost  the  whole  district  of  Southwest  Missouri,  he  was  "a 
union  man;"  and  yet  such  was  his  Christian  character  that  he  was  recog- 
nized as  a  peacemaker  among  his  neighbors  of  both  parties.  II is  piety  and 
moral  worth  were  in  such  repute  that  on  one  occasion  a  large  rebel  army 
lay  in  camp  near  his  farm  for  several  days  without  molesting  him  or  his 
property  in  the  least.  Two  of  his  rebel  neighbors  waited  on  the  General  in 
command  and  told  him  that  our  brother  was  a  Union  man,  but  that  they 
regarded  him  as  so  good  a  man  that  the  Southern  Confederacy  could  not 
afford   to  disturb  him. 

PRESBYTER. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  clearly  pronounced  Presbyterians  with  whom 
the  writer  has  ever  met.  From  childhood  he  was  thoroughly  taught  in  the 
faith  of  his  ancestry,  and  during  his  life  he  cherished  a  most  profound 
respect  for  "the  old  ways."  He  was  slow  to  receive  anything  that  was 
not  endorsed  by  the  faith  and  usage  of  the  Presbyterian  fathers.  He  en- 
joyed the  society  of  his  brethren,  and  was  never  absent  from  a  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  if  it  was  possible  for  him  to  be  present.  His  interest  in  the 
proceedings  never  failed  him.  We  always  expected  to  hear  from  Mr.  McFar- 
land.  Still  his  bearing  was  so  modest,  his  words  were  so  full  of  peace,  and 
his  brethren  had  so  much  confidence  in  his  sincerity  that  his  speeches  were 
never  offensive.  It  is  safe  to  affirm  that  he  never  wounded  the  feeling  ,,t 
a  brother  Presbyter  in  his  life. 

LAST  SICKNESS. 

His  health  was  never  robust.  Nearly  two  years  ago  what  seemed  to 
be  at  the  time  a  small  sore  made  its  appearance  on  his  right  cheek  just 
below  the  eye.  At  first  there  was  no  particular  alarm.  Its  continuance. 
however,  made  him  uneasy.  It  was  pronounced  cancer.  In  the  early  part 
of  this  year  he  made  a  trip  to  Pennsylvania  with  the  hope  of  obtaining 
relief.  Through  the  influence  of  the  medicine  he  took  while  at  Pittsburgh 
the  sore  began  to  heal,  but  the  disease  seized  upon  the  lungs.  Our  brother 
returned  home  in  last  June,  where  he  continued  to  sink  gradually  until  he 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus  on  Sabbath  evening,  July  21.  During  all  his  illness  he 
never  suffered  pain.  This  he  enumerated  as  one  of  the  mercies  of  God.  He 
was  not  even  confined  to  his  bed. 

A  few  hours  before  his  death  he  spoke  freely  to  his  wife  of  his  relig- 
ious state.  She  said  to  him,  "Your  mother  told  me  that  she  never  knew 
you  to  tell  a  falsehood  and  that  you  was  always  a  good  boy. ' '  He  seemed 
to  shrink  back  from  this  statement,  threw  up  his  hands  and  exclaimed: 
"No,  no;  I  was  a  very  wicked  sinner;  T  owe  all  chat  I  am  to  grace,  grace, 
grace."  Said  he:  "There  was  a  period  of  late  when  I  was  in  deep 
trouble;  my  sins  seemed  to  lie  on  my  soul  like  a  mountain,  but  these  I  have 
left  all  behind  me,  and  now  I  enjoy  peace.  Heaven  is  my  anticipatioi  and 
I  feel  sure  that  I  shall  attain  it."  On  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  at  his 
request,  his  wife  read  to  him  the  fourth  and  fifth  chapters  of  II  Corin- 
thians. 


\V.    R.    FULTON 


DAVID    APPLEBY 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  203 

LAST  HOURS. 

It  had  long  been  the  custom  of  a  number  of  religious  families  in  the 
neighborhood  to  hold  prayer  meetings  in  the  school  house  near  his  home 
on  Sabbath  afternoon.  That  afternoon  it  was  held  at  his  request  in  his 
room.  When  he  was  asked  what  hymns  he  wished  sung  he  replied,  ' '  Hymns 
which  speak  of  Christ  and  heaven."  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  as  they 
passed  out,  old  and  young,  he  shook  hands  with  and  bid  them  farewell. 
At  a  few  minutes  past  8  o  'clock  his  little  son  came  up  to  his  bed  and 
kissed  him,  as  was  his  custom  before  retiring.  He  said,  "Good-bye,  my 
son."  These  were  his  last  words  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  ceased  to  breathe. 
So  easy  was  his  death  that  his  watchers  did  not  know  the  moment  of  his 
departure. 

Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  purest  and  best  of  men,  so  mild  and  gentle 
in  disposition,  so  unselfish  and  sincere  in  his  daily  living,  that  he  left  be- 
hind him  not  an  enemy.  A  wife  and  little  son,  besides  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  brethren,  remain  to  mourn  his  death.  But  we  are  comforted 
with  the  assurance  that  our  loss  is  the  eternal  gain  of  our  departed  brother. 
There  is  one  interesting  fact  connected  with  his  funeral  which  is  worthy 
of  note  in  this  age  of  itinerary  in  the  ministry.  The  young  men  who  pre- 
pared the  body  for  burial  and  carried  it  to  the  grave  had  been  batpized  by 
him  in  infancy,  and  had  grown  up  in  childhood  under  his  ministry. 

WILLIAM  R.  FULTON. 

Valentine  Pentzer,  John  McFarland,  William  R.  Fulton.  1844- 
1878,  succession  of  ministers  in  the  Ebenezer  Church !  When 
was  a  church  in  the  wilderness  supplied  by  such  a  trio  of  minis- 
ters for  so  long  a  time  with  only  short  intervals  between  pastor- 
ates? Pentzer,  the  solid  sermonizer;  McFarland  and  Fulton, 
twins  in  piety,  in  zeal  for  planting  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest 
Missouri  and  in  unremitting  toil !  No  wonder  that  this  church 
survived  the  ravages  of  war  better  than  any  other  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Southwest  Missouri,  and  that  at  its  fiftieth  anniversary 
it  could  point  to  seven  of  its  sons  in  the  ministry.  The  best  sum- 
mary of  Mr.  Fulton's  life  and  labors  that  has  come  to  my  hands 
is  his  memorial  spread  on  the  records  of  Ozark  Presbytery.  And 
if  my  readers  will  peruse  this  one  I  will  promise  not  to  incorpor- 
ate any  more  memorials — that  is,  not  until  I  find  another  one  so 
good  that  I  cannot  pass  it  by: 

MEMORIAL  PAPER  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  REV.  W.   R.  FULTON. 

"It  has  pleased  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  to  take  to  Himself  our 
brother  in  the  ministry,  Rev.  William  R.  Fulton.  This  Presbytery,  assem- 
bled at  Greenfield,  Mo.,  as  a  feeble  expression  of  its  regard  for  the  name 
and  memory  of  Bro.  Fulton,  has  resolved  to  spread  this  memorial  on  its 
minutes: 

"Rev.  W.  R.  Fulton  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania, 
March  1st,  1818.  He  was  the  son  of  pious  parents  and  early  in  life  was 
brought  under  those  good  influences  which  flowed  out  into  the  excellencies 
of  his  manhood  and  the  goodness  of  his  age.     He  commenced  his  academic 


204  Presbyterianism  in  the  (  )/.arks 

education  at  Florence  Academy,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  at  Athene 
College,  Ohio.  Afterwards  he  spent  three  years  in  Western  Theological 
Seminary  at  Allegheny,  Pa.  He  began  his  ministry  in  Ohio,  at  Deerfield 
and  Bristol,  and  from  the  first  his  labors  were  Messed  in  the  conversion  of 
men  to  God  and  in  the  strengthening  of  the  churches.  In  the  year  1849 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Willson*,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Wilson,  who  was  for  nearly  fifty  years  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Norwich 
and  Pleasant  Hill.  The  wife  of  his  youth  was  spared  to  lie  the  companion 
and  light  of  his  age.  Bro.  Fulton,  after  returning  for  a  short  time  to 
Washington,  Pa.,  and  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood,  finally  removed  to  Mis- 
souri in  the  year  1852  and  took  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  In- 
dependence temporarily  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Symington; 
and  after  a  short  time  he  removed  to  Oregon,  Mo.,  and  here  began  a  labor 
which  was  very  successful  and  fruitful.  Several  hundred  converted  persons 
were  added  to  the  church  through  his  direct  influence  or  aid.  Churches 
were' organized  at  that  time  which  are  today  almost  the  best  in  the  State. 
In  the  year  1860  he  took  charge  of  the  church  of  Greenfield  and  contiued 
the  pastor  for  nineteen  years.  During  those  years  his  name  is  identified 
with  all  the  churches  in  Jasper,  Dade,  Greene  and  Newton  counties.  He 
had  the  great  privilege  of  gathering  the  flocks  and  securing  for  them  their 
earliest  pastors.  At  the  autumn  meeting  of  this  Presbytery,  held  in  the 
Spring  Hill  school  house,  in  Jasper  County,  October  4,  1880.  Bro.  Fulton 
as  retiring  Moderator  preached  the  opening  sermon.  Many  of  us  can  never 
forget  the  energy  and  eloquence  with  which  he  spoke.  Over  him  were  few 
of  the  shadows  of  age.  His  face  wore  none  of  its  wasted  lines.  Little  did 
we  think  that  this  was  the  last  time  we  should  meet  on  earth.  He  returned 
home  and  resumed  his  labors  in  the  churches  to  which  he  had  been  preaching 
at  Ash  Grove  and  Pleasant  Valley.  On  Sabbath,  the  12th  of  December,  1880, 
he  preached  at  Ash  Grove,  and  on  his  return  to  his  home  complained  of 
cold,  but  this  gave  no  alarm,  for  he  had  never  been  seriously  ill.  On  Sab- 
bath, the  19th  of  December,  still  being  unwell,  he  preached  in  Pleasant 
Valley  on  the  word,  "The  King's  business  requireth  haste.'  This  was  his 
last  sermon.  When  he  reached  home  he  was  more  unwell  from  the  effort, 
but  was  no  confined  to  his  house  or  bed.  He  participated  in  the  Christmas 
services  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  there  was  so  little  serious  in  his 
illness  that  his  daughter,  Miss  Hattie  Fulton,  returned  to  her  post  of  duty 
at  Lindenwood  College.  On  Friday  night  he  had  a  congestive  chill,  and 
from  that  time  grew  rapidly  worse.  But  such  was  the  unbroken  strength 
of  his  constitution  and  such  his  uncomplaining  patience  that  no  serious 
apprehension  was  entertained  until  nearly  the  end.  During  all  the  wan- 
derings of  sickness  his  heart  and  brain  were  at  work  in  weaving  together 
divine  truth  and  constructing  sermons  to  preach.  Not  for  a  moment  for 
himself  or  his  family  did  his  faith  waver.  To  his  faithful  and  stricken  wife 
he  said,  'Well,  I  can  commit  you  to  Christ.'     On  Monday  morning,  January 

*This  daughter  and  "mistress  of  the  manse"  deserves  more  than 
passing  mention.  She  was  in  a  large  sense  a  worthy  co-laborer  with  her 
husband  in  Greenfield,  and  after  his  death  was  not  content  to  leave  her. 
harp  hanging  upon  the  willows.  Dr.  Hill 's  sketch  of  the  Butler  Church 
contains  this  notice:  "The  church  is  thoroughly  and  efficiently  organized, 
having  a  good  Sabbath  school  *  *  *  an(]  a  small  but  vigorous  Woman  's 
Missionary  Society,  which  is  one  of  the  most  energetic  in  the  Presbytery. 
No  notice  of  the  Butler  Church  would  be  complete  without  mention  of  it. 
For  some  years  its  President  was  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Fulton,  widow  of  the  late 
W.  R.  Fulton,  with  whom  she  shared  many  years  of  labor  in  this  State.  To 
her,  as  also  to  Mrs.  Prof.  Martin,  much  credit  is  due  for  the  missionary 
spirit   seen  in  the  church." — Ed. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  205 

10  1881,  he  entered  into  rest  and  went  up  to  meet  his  God.  'Blessed  are 
the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord. '  The  death  of  Bro.  Fulton  is  deeply  felt 
by  us  as  a  Presbytery,  for  he  has  been  so  long  a  standard  bearer  and  a 
faithful  and  highly  useful  minister  of  the  word,  and  we  had  hoped  that  he 
would  be  many  years  spared,  to  guide  the  steps  of  his  younger  brethren 
and  to  feed  the  flocks  to  which  he  ministered.  But  God's  ways  are  not  ours. 
His  thoughts  are  not  ours.  He  is  calling  us  to  do  witn  our  might  the 
work  of  our  ministry,  for  the  night  cometh  on.  .We  recall  with  pleasure 

and  gratitude  the  blamelessness  and  Christian  simplicity  of  his  life.  He 
laid  not  up  for  himself  treasures  on  earth,  but  sought  the  imperishable 
riches  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  We  likewise  are  glad  to  leave  behind  on  his 
memorial  our  testimony  to  his  uniform  kindness,  courtesy  and  forbearance 
to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  Though  far  beyond  many  of  us  in  age, 
experience  and  wisdom,  he  was  uniformly  patient  and  gentle,  and  easy  to 
be  entreated.  Though  a  man  of  deep  and  earnest  convictions,  they  were 
held  in  charity.  It  is  our  greatest  joy  in  review  of  his  life  that  he  de- 
lighted to  preach  the  gospel.  It  was  the  daily  delight  of  his  life;  a  well 
of  living  water  within  him.  Such  could  not  perish.  And  at  this  hour  we 
lift  up  our  eyes  from  his  coffin  and  his  grave  and  behold  him  casting  his 
crown  at  the  feet  of  our  Lord,  and  exclaiming  with  the  myriads  of  the 
redeemed,  '  Not  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  oh  Lord,  but  unto  Thy  name  be  the 
glory. '  This  Presbytery  expresses  its  sympathy  with  those  churches  from 
whom  their  beloved  teacher  is  removed  so  suddenly,  and  unite  in  imploring 
for  them  the  presence  of  the  Great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  Souls.  For  his 
widowed  companion  and  daughters  we  express  our  sincere  commiseration. 
We  try  to  realize  the  value  of  such  a  husband  and  father  to  his  family,  but 
in  vain.  We  cannot.  We  descend  into  the  depth  of  their  loss.  We  can 
only  say  he  is  not  dead,  but  liveth,  and  the  eternal  reunion  will  be  sweeter 
and  holier  by  reason  of  his  separation  from  them  for  a  little  season. 
Soon  will  we  forget  all  our  sorrows  in  the  joy  of  our  Lord.  So  certain  are 
we  that  it  is  far  better  to  be  with  Christ  that  were  it  not  for  the  flocks 
over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  us  the  shepherds  we  would  cry, 
'  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly. '  ' ' 

This  memorial  was  prepared  by  Revs.  Benjamin  F.  Powelson 
and  J.  J.  Marks,  D.  D.,  and  Elder  J.  T.  Martin. 

The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  J.  Garrett, 
so  long  and  prominently  identified  with  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian work  in  and  around  Greenfield.  Side  by  side  these  men  of 
God  had  built  up  the  two  branches  of  Presbyterianism.  The 
agreement  of  the  two  systems  of  truth  sufficient  to  warrant  a 
union  "alike  honorable  to  both"  was  not  seen  by  them  at  that 
time.  But  each  recognized  the  other  as  a  man  of  God.  One  has 
joined  the  church  triumphant,  the  other,  in  the  twilight  of  his 
years,  was  enrolled  in  the  reunited  church,  and  the  two  churches 
of  Greenfield  are  happily  one. 


2o6  Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks 


POST-BELLUM  0.  S.  MINISTERS. 


WILLIAM  J.  WRIGHT 

The  Presbytery  of  Southwest  [Missouri  was  organized  with 
three  ministers.*  Of  these  W.  J.  Wright  was  enrolled  for  the 
purpose  of  making  the  organization  constitutional:  As  soon  as 
the  new  Presbytery  could  ordain  John  Giffen.  Mr.  Wright  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  i.  e.  June  24,  1865. 
Prior  to  this  he  had  been  United  States  Hospital  chaplain,  located 
at  Springfield,  Mo.  Though  his  services  to  the  Presbytery  were 
technical  rather  than  consecpiential,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  he 
afterward  obtained  considerable  celebrity.  He  was  the  first 
American  elected  to  the  London  Mathematical  Society,  and  wrote 
a  treatise  on  higher  mathematics,  now  used  in  the  Socbonne  Paris, 
in  the  University  of  Vienna  and  in  London  University.  To  the 
unlettered  public  he  is  better  known  as  the  husband  of  the  writer 
— Julia  McNair  Wright.  He  was  professor  of  mathematics  in 
Westminster  College.  Fulton.   Mo..   1888-1900. 

Born  Weybridge.  Vermont,  August  3.  1831 ;  married  Julia 
McNair,  of  Oswego.  X.  Y..  1859;  ordained  1863  by  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick ;  received  the  degrees  of  Ph.  D.  and  LL.  D., 
one  and  probably  both  from  Union.  Died  at  Fulton,  Mo.,  Febru- 
ary 26.  1903.    His  wife  died  soon  after  this. 

JOHN  GIFFEN. 

To  John  Giffen  belongs  the  distinctions  of  being  the  first 
man  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  and  the 
first  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  Before  and  after  his  ordina- 
tion lie  served  Calvary  Church  as  stated  supply  for  a  short  time. 
He  was  ordained  June  24.  1865.  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Schuyler  November  23,  1866. 

A.  JONES. 

"The  action  of  Synod  extending  the  boundaries  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Southwest  Missouri  so  as  to  include  the  counties  Henry 
and  Bates,  and  attaching  to  the  same  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Jones  and  Rev. 
J.  A.  Paige  was  officially  announced  to  Presbytery  by  the  latter 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  207 

as  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri.'— Minutes  Presbytery 
of  Southwest  Missouri  November  24,  1866. 

Dr.  Jones'  labors  were  outside  the  bounds  of  the  territory 
covered  by  this  book.  For  a  sketch  of  his  life  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  Hill's  History  of  Kansas  City  Presbytery. 

JAMES  A.  PAIGE. 

In  addition  to  the  above  sketch,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
sketch  of  Calvary  Church  for  an  acount  of  Mr.  Paige's  connection 
with  this  Presbytery.  James  A.  Paige  was  born  in  Ware  village, 
Massachusetts.  October  6,  1823 ;  graduated  at  Princeton  College 
in  1849  and  seminary  1852.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia  Central  April,  1852,  and  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  St.  Louis  in  the  fall  of  1855.  Prom  1866  to  1871  he  occu- 
pied a  commanding  and  commendable  position  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri Presbytery.  As  pastor  of  Calvary  Church,  Stated  Clerk  of 
the  Presbytery  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Home  Mis- 
sions, he  was  alike  useful  and  efficient.  He  was  installed  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1867,  by  Revs.  John  McFarland  and  W.  R.  Fulton,  and 
on  October  12,  1871,  Presbytery  agreed  to  the  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation  provided  that  this  order  become  effective  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1872.  Mr.  Paige  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Schuyler. 

SALATHIEL  MILTON  IRWIN. 

Born  South  Salem,  Ohio,  November  23,  1836 ;  graduated  Han- 
over, Ind..  1863,  and  Princeton  Seminary  1866.  Licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Chillicothe  June  6,  1865,  and  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Southwest  Missouri  November  25,  1866.  He  served 
as  stated  supply  of  the  Little  Osage  Church  and  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Topeka  September  13,  1867.  Since  that  date 
he  has  served  various  churches  in  Kansas. 

JOHN  W.  PINKERTON. 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  have  been  unable  to  get  an  ade- 
quate sketch  of  the  valuable  services  of  this  brother  and  know 
so  little  of  his  personality.  He  was  received  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Upper  Missouri  April  3d.  1868,  and  on  September  13,  1872, 
Presbytery  authorized  the  S.  C.  to  grant  him  a  letter  of  dismissal 
when  called  for.  Prior  to  his  reception  by  the  Presbytery  he  had 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Neosho  Church,  and  for  two 
years  supplied  the  church  in  connection  with  his  work  at  Car- 


2o8  Presbyterianjsm  in  the  Ozarks 

thage.  He  either  organized  or  assisted  in  the  organization  of  a 
number  of  the  other  churches  of  the  Presbytery,  and  was  a  true 
and  efficient  pioneer  missionary.  From  Dr.  A.  C.  Schell,  of  Neo- 
sho, I  learn  that  he  was  a  Large  man  in  every  way — large  physic- 
ally, mentally,  socially  and  spiritually.  Elder  William  R.  Gor- 
ton's memories  of  the  man  accord  with  this  description.  The 
register  of  the  Presbytery  gives  his  initials  as  J.  A.  instead  of  J. 
W.,  and  with  this  agrees  some  information  from  another  source. 
But  the  preponderance  of  evidence  points  to  J.  W. 

BE  X.J  A. MIX  F.  POWELSOX. 

Benjamin  F.  Powelson  was  born  near  Romney,  W.  Va.,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1840 ;  graduated  at  Washington  College  and  Allegheny 
Seminary  (1860,  1867)  ;  served  in  the  Union  Army  and  was  re- 
tired 1865  with  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Washington  April  24,  1862,  and  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  September  5th,  1868.  Mr. 
Powelson  had  ben  serving  the  churches  of  Deep  water  (German- 
town),  Henry  County,  and  Little  Osage,  Vernon  County,  since 
July  1st,  1867.  The  enabling  act  of  1870  placed  him  in  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Osage.  In  a  letter  to  the  author  he  writes:  "From 
September,  '73,  to  June,  '74,  I  was  a  member  of  Ozark  Presby- 
tery; pastor  of  Neosho  Church.  But  the  arrangement  to  go  under 
Sustentation  Board  failing.  I  accepted  a  recall  to  the  charge  of 
the  Montrose  Church  and  again  became  a  member  of  Osage  Pres- 
bytery. *  *  *  January  1,  1876,  I  was  called  to  the  principal- 
ship  of  Butler  Academy,  Butler,  Mo.,  and  succeeded  in  the  fron- 
tier work,  the  institution  being  put  on  good  footing  with  a  $10,000 
building  and  an  attendance  of  about  100  students.  In  May,  1879, 
I  accepted  a  call  to  the  charge  of  the  churches  of  Greenfield  and 
Ozark  Prairie,  and  that  fall  was  received  into  the  membership 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  I  was  prospered  in  my  work  there, 
but  in  June,  1882.  I  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Lyons.  Kan. 

J.  HOWARD  XIXOX. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Xixon  in  Southwest  Missouri  was  educa- 
tional rather  than  strictly  ministerial.  He  was  drawn  to  Spring- 
field by  ill  health,  and  was  superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
for  two  years.  During  this  time  he  preached  occasionally  at  Cal- 
vary Church.  During  the  long  and  gracious  protracted  meeting 
in  that  church  he  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Werth  took  time  about  preach- 
ing, leaving  the  pastor.  Mr.  Paige,  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  pas- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  209 

toral  work.  While  in  this  city!  he  and  Mr.  Charles  Sheppard  se- 
cured the  erection  of  the  only  pretentious  school  house  in  the 
place — the  building  on  Jefferson  street,  now  known  as  Central 
School.  Dr.  Nixon  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Henry  Sheppard,  and 
was  one  of  the  most  scholarly  ministers  connected  with  Presby- 
terianism in  Southwest  Missouri.  He  was  born  in  Milford,  Dela- 
ware, November,  1829,  reared  in  New  Jersey  and  graduated 
with  honors  at  Princeton  in  1851.  Having  previously  served  in 
a'bank  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  gave  promise  of  great  financial 
ability,  he  playfully  remarked  to  a  friend:  "There  are  three 
things  that  I  think  I  know  how  to  do,  viz.,  teach  school,  run  a 
bank,  and  preach  a  sermon."  Before  entering  Princeton  Semi- 
nary he  went  South  as  a  tutor  in  a  planter's  family  and  there 
preached  to  the  slaves  on  the  plantation.  He  graduated  from 
Princeton  Seminary  in  1854  and  served  the  church  of  Cambridge, 
N.  Y.,  for  four  years.  From  1860  to  1869  he  was  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  of  Indianapolis,  where  he  ordained  Benjamin  Har- 
rison as  an  elder.  A  trip  to  Europe  was  followed  by  his  residence 
in  Springfield.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest 
Missouri  August  20,  1869,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis  October  12,  1871.  Subsequently  he  was  President  of  Lin- 
denwood  College  for  five  years,  and  served  churches  in  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware  and  Webster  Groves,  Mo.  He  died  April  22,  1892. 
Dr.  Nichols  in  his  tribute  to  his  memory  spoke  of  him  as  a  man  of 
deep  spiritual  intuitions,  with  a  rare  command  of  simple  Saxon, 
a  lover  of  the  poets  and  Versatile  in  his  attainments  and  achieve- 
ments and  quoted  at  his  funeral: 

"I  know  not  what  the  future  hath 
Of  marvel  or  surprise 
Assured  alone  that  life  and  death, 
His  mercy  underlies. 

And  if  my  heart  and  flesh  are  weak, 
To  bear  an  untried  pain 
The  bruised  reed  he  will  not  break 
But  strengthen  and  sustain. 

I  know  not  where  his  islands 
Their  fronded  palms  in  air, 
I  only  know  I  can  not  drift 
Beyond  His  love  and  care. 

And  so  beside  the  silent  sea 

I  wait  the  muffled  oar ; 

No  harm  from  him  can  come  to  me, 

On  ocean  or  on  shore. 


210  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

AUSTIN  W.  ELLIOTT. 

The  last  man  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Southwest 
Missouri  was  Austin  W.  Elliott.  He  was  received  as  a  licentiate 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Chicago  April  25,  1870,  and  was  ordained 
the  following  day.  He  served  as  a  Home  Missionary  in  the 
Presbytery  of  Ozark  for  a  short  time,  but  was  soon  laid  aside  by 
infirmities  of  the  flesh.  He  was  honorably  retired  April  10,  1889, 
and  died  September  30,  1891. 


MINISTERS   RECEIVED   AFTER   THE   ORGANIZATION   OF 
OZARK  PRESBYTERY. 


N.  H.  DOWNING. 

The  first  minister  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  was 
N.  H.  Downing.  He  wras  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Catawba  September  6,  1871.  He  organized  the  church  of  Logan 
and  served  that  church  in  connection  with  Ozark  Prairie. 

WILLIS  L.  MILLER. 

Random  Reminiscences  of  Willis  L.  Miller  are  given  else- 
where in  this  volume.  He  came  to  Southwest  Missouri  in  broken 
health — from  North  Carolina,  if  my  memory  serves  me  correctly, 
and  recuperated  at  my  father's  house  in  Ritchey.  He  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Presbytery  October  12,  1871,  and  soon  returned  to 
active  services.  At  various  times  he  served  the  churches  of  Lo- 
cust Grove,  Newtonia  and  Ritchey,  Preston,  Salem,  Grace,  Ozark 
Prairie  and  Shiloh.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Trinity  April  2nd,  1879 ;  returned  to  the  Presbytery  April  10th. 
1883 ;  and  was  dismissed  a  second  time,  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Indian  Territory  February  19,  1884.  The  Presbytery  has  seldom 
had  the  equal  of  Mr.  Miller  in  its  groups  of  country  churches. 
He  was  zealous,  active  and  efficient.  His  wife  was  a  woman  of 
rare  intellectual  attainments  and  made  valuable  contributions 
of  poetry  and  prose  to  various  religious  periodicals — notably  the 
Interior.  His  son,  Charles  H.,  was  received  under  care  of  the 
Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  and  has  been  in  the 
ministry  of  the  church  for  a  number  of  years. 

S.  N.  D.  MARTIN. 

Rev.  S.  N.  D.  Martin  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Neosho  April  12th,  1872,  and  was  dismissed  April  10,  1875.     He 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  211 

preached  at  Ozark  Prairie,  Verona  and  Avilla ;  became  a  member 
of  the  Presbytery  the  second  time  April  11,  1189.  and  served  the 
churches  of  Bolivar.  Mt.  Zion  and  Grand  Prairie.  He  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Spokane  April  5th.  1899. 

JOHN  E.  WERTH. 

Though  a  member  of  this  Presbytery  from  April  12.  1872,  to 
October  20,  1887,  and  a  man  who  left  a  fragrant  memory.  John 
E.  Werth  barely  belongs  to  this  history  because  he  was  engaged 
in  secular  pursuits  rather  than  the  regular  work  of  the  ministry. 
He  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler  and  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis. 

HARTWELL  A.  TUCKER. " 

In  my  boyhood  days  one  of  the  old  school  readers  contained 
a  wrapt  description  of  a  blind  preacher.  The  narrative  gave  the 
impressions  made  on  his  mind  by  a  sermon  the  preacher  had 
preached  on  the  Passion  of  our  Lord.  The  whole  tragedy,  it 
seemed,  was  reenacted  in  the  presence  of  the  speaker  as  with 
wonderful  pathos  he  exclaimed:  "Socrates  died  like  a  philoso- 
pher, but  Jesus  Christ  like  a  God."  The  name  of  Hartwell  A. 
Tucker  brings  to  my  mind  this  piece  in  the  old  reader.  I  knew 
him  when  I  was  a  child,  and  the  acquaintance  has  been  renewed 
in  recent  years.  He  came  from  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  of 
Neosho  and  entered  Ozark  Presbytery  June  11,  1872.  During 
the  three  years  membership  in  this  Presbytery  he  served  the 
churches  of  Buffalo  and  Urbana.  Bolivar  and  Conway.  At  that 
time  his  eyesight  was  rapidly  failing  and  he  subsequently  became 
practically  blind.  After  a  short  sojourn  in  Texas  he  went  to  the 
Indian  Territory  where  he  was  Presbyterial  Missionary  and 
Chairman  of  Home  Missions  for  a  number  of  years.  Recently  he 
has  resided  within  the  bounds  of  this  presbytery  and  has  done 
some  supply  work  in  connection  with  his  practice  as  an  Osteo- 
pathic physician.  There  is  a  uniqueness  and  spiritual  charm  about 
Mr.  Tucker's  preaching  that  is  very  attractive  to  me.  He  recites 
his  scripture  lesson  from  memory,  makes  much  use  of  the  sacred 
number  seven  in  the  divisions  of  his  discourse  and  uses  the 
observational  method.  Withal  the  sweet  Christian  spirit  of  the 
man  permeates  every  discourse.  When  he  realized  that  his  afflic- 
tion hindered  him  so  greatly  in  pastoral  work  he  declared  that 
"The  ministry  of  intercession"  was  still  open  to  him. 


212  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

CYRUS  II.  DUNLAP. 

In  the  judgment  of  one  who  h;is  been  a  careful  observer 
of  men  and  Presbyterian  churches  since  the  Civil  war  probably 
Ozark  Presbytery  has  not  had  ;i  man  of  superior  pulpit  endow- 
ments to  Cyrus  H.  Dunlap.  Dr.  Nevin's  notice  of  him  would 
seem  to  confirm  this  judgment:  "Mr.  Dunlap  is  a  preacher 
of  good  parts  and  of  power.  His  sermons  are  clear,  scriptural 
and  spiritual.  He  speaks  with  greal  earnestness  and  sincerity. 
and  touches  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  He  is  a  man  of  devoted 
piety.  He  is  active  in  Sabbath  School,  missionary  and  temper- 
ance work.  He  is  a  good  pastor,  an  indefatigable  worker,  m 
faithful  undershepherd. 

Mr.  Dunlap  graduated  at  Westminster  in  1857  and  com- 
pleted his  course  in  Theology  in  1864.  Pennsylvania,  the  Caron- 
dolet  church  of  St.  Louis  and  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Sedalia. 
Mo.,  were  blessed  with  his  faithful  ministries  before  his  coming 
to  Southwest  Missouri.  For  about  eight  years — 1872-1879 — he 
was  pastor  elect  of  Calvary  church.  His  efficient  methods  of 
administration  are  referred  to  in  the  sketch  of  that  church.  The 
women  attribute  to  his  zeal  and  cooperation  in  a  large  measure 
the  existence  of  the  Presbyterial  Missionary  Society  of  which  his 
wife  was  first  president.  Together  they  wrought  effectively  in 
building  up  the  Missionary  work  of  the  Presbytery.  Mrs.  Dunlap 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  numerous  auxiliary  society  and 
Mr.  Dunlap  served  the  Presbytery  as  Chairman  of  Home  Missions. 
He  was  twice  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri.  In  1879  he 
returned  to  Western  Pennsylvania  and  resumed  his  labors  there. 

SQUIRE  GLASCOCK. 

Licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  October  13,  1873.  or- 
dained April  29,  1875,  relicensed  May  2.  1892,  reordained  Sept- 
ember 14,  1892.  He  served  for  longer  or  shorter  time  the  churches 
of  Neosho,  Westminister,  Joplin.  South  Joplin.  Lone  Elm  and 
Lehigh.     Demitted  the  ministry  September  21.  1899. 

HIRAM  HILL. 

This  name  appears  in  the  minutes  of  Presbytery  as  a  corres- 
ponding member  April  10,  1873.  and  this  same  year  he  is  listed 
in  the  assembly  minutes  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery,  but  there 
is  no  record  of  his  reception  or  dismissal.  He  supplied  the 
Carthage  church  for  about  a  year  and  a  half  and  relinquished  the 
work  on  account  of  ill  health. 


W.    S.    KNIGHT 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  213 

J.  B.  VAWTER. 

A  member  of  the  Presbytery  from  September  1874  to  Sept- 
ember 1877.  Probably  a  colporteur  part  of  the  time — did  desul- 
tory work  at  several  moribund  churches,  i.  e.  North  Prairie,  Black 
Oak  Point  (?),  Hermitage  and  Linn  Creek. 

J.  H.  WILSON. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Emporia  April  9,  1875. 
Died  July  1902.  There  seems  to  be  no  record  of  his  work  in  this 
Presbytery. 

THOMAS   0.   RICE. 

For  some  time  previous  to  his  reception  and  a  time  thereafter 
Mr.  Rice  supplied  the  Carthage  church.  He  was  received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Des  Moines  April  10,  1875,  and  dismissed  to  the 
Congregational  Association  of  Cape  Cod  March  1881. 

WILLIAM  S.  KNIGHT. 

Perhaps  I  can  render  no  better  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
this  benign  father  in  Israel  than  to  insert  here  the  minutes  of  Pres- 
bytery on  his  memorial  service  held  at  Webb  City  April  18,  1906 : 
"Presbytery  convened  with  prayer  at  8  o'clock.  Presbytery  held 
a  memorial  service  in  memory  of  William  S.  Knight,  D.  D.  The 
following  program  was  carried  out  in  connection  with  this  service : 
The  report  of  the  Carthage  Collegiate  Institute  of  which  Dr. 
Knight  was  president  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  read  and  ap- 
proved, address  by  Dr.  J.  F.  Shepherd ;  scripture  reading  and 
prayer  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Williamson,  anthem  by  a  chorus  of  girls 
from  the  Institute ;  addresses  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jeffries  representing 
the  Ministerial  Alliance  of  Carthage  and  W.  J.  Sewell  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees ;  address  by  D.  B.  Whimster.  The  following 
minute  on  the  life  and  labors  of  Dr.  Knight  was  presented  by 
Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield  and  adopted  by  Presbytery : 

A  MEMORIAL  ON  REV.  W.  S.  KNIGHT,  D.  D. 

"Amidst  the  general  activities  of  the  spiritual  harvest  season  we  were 
stunned  'by  one  of  those  death  notes  which  are  pealed  at  intervals  as  from 
an  archangel's  trumpet  to  awaken  the  soul'  to  a  realization  of  the  fact 
that  'here  we  have  no  continuing  city.'  Our  brother,  W.  S.  Knight,  D.  D., 
who  gave  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  more  years  of  faithful  service  than 
any  of  us,   has  shared  the  lot   of  humanity.     He   died  November  16,   1905. 


214  Presbyterianism  jn  the  Ozarks 

Perchance  it  was  the  'sweetness  and  light'  of  a  serene  Christian  life  shin 
Lng  in  his  face  that  we  mistook  for  the  bloom  of  health  and  the  conserved 
powers  of  mature  and  scarcely  declining  years  of  manhood.  His  tempera- 
ment, habits  of  life  and  appearances  all  betokened  a  number  of  years  more 
of  service.  That  without  the  warnings  of  accident  or  sickness,  in  the  quiet 
of  his  study,  as  if  'in  the  lap  of  God,'  he  should  fall  asleep,  startles  us  for 
a  moment,  but  awakens  the  inquiry,  after  all,  as  to  whether  or  not  a  lift- 
so  free  from  turmoil  and  strife  has  not  found  a  fitting  close  in  a  departure 
free  from  long  drawn  out  and  wasting  pain.  He  was  born  at  Newcastle, 
Ohio,  August  17,  1839;  graduated  at  Washington  and  Jefferson  College  in 
1862  and  at  Western  Seminary  1865.  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  his  alma  mater  in  1887.  The  Presbytery  of  Schuyler  ordained 
him  April  8th,  1866,  and  nearly  ten  years  were  spent  in  the  two  pastorates, 
Carthage  and  Augusta,  111.  Having  married  Miss  Anna  Mack  on  the  17tli 
of  August,  1871,  in  July,  1875,  he  came  with  his  little  family  to  Carthage, 
Mo.,  and  took  charge  of  a  struggling  home  mission  church,  burdened  witli 
a  debt  of  nearly  $3,000.  As  in  Augusta,  111.,  he  had  built  up  a  small  church 
to  a  membership  of  over  200,  so  in  Carthage,  Mo.,  the  membership  increased 
and  the  debt  decreased;  when,  having  raised  the  church  to  self-support 
after  nearly  three  years'  service  as  stated  supply,  he  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carthage,  Mo.,  which  church  he  sup- 
plied as  stated  supply  and  pastor  for  eighteen  years.  A  marked  charac- 
teristic of  Dr.  Knight's  ministry  was  his  interest  in  the  young.  In  his 
first  pastorate  at  Carthage,  111.,  at  a  time  when  young  people's  work  did  not 
receive  so  much  attention  as  now,  he  gathered  about  him  a  body  of  young 
people  and  enlisted  them  in  earnest  Christian  work.  It  was  this  interest  in 
the  young  people  of  the  flock  that  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  planning  with 
others  the  institution  to  which  he  gave  during  the  twenty  years  of  its  exist- 
ence his  most  earnest  thoughts  and  efforts.  Having  served  Lindenwood 
College  as  President  for  five  years  and  the  Clifton  Heights  Church  of  St. 
Louis  as  stated  supply  for  two  years,  he  returned  to  the  scenes  of  his  earlier 
labors  and  love,  and  for  the  last  six  years  of  his  life  was  the  President  of 
Carthage  Collegiate  Institute.  Thus  twenty-four  years  of  his  ministry  was 
spent  in  one  city  within  the  bounds  of  Ozark  Presbytery.  For  eleven  years 
he  was  stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery  and  a  backward  glance  at  our  min- 
utes reveals  his  zeal  for  both  home  and  foreign  missions,  for  Christian  educa- 
tion, for  purity  and  truth  in  the  church — in  a  word,  '  for  every  good  word 
and  work. '  Both  a  companion  and  a  father  to  the  young,  a  wise  counsellor 
and  guide  to  the  erring,  and  just  the  man  you  would  want  near  you  in 
sickness  or  sorrow  or  death,  he  was  rich  in  the  affection  which  has  been 
manifested  toward  him  during  his  whole  life  by  all  ages  and  all  classes 
of  people.  And  the  generous  sorrow  of  friends  far  and  near  has  been  beau- 
tifully expressed  in  every  possible  way  since  he  has  been  taken  home.  Re- 
solved, that  in  view  of  his  long  and  eminent  service,  this  minute  be  spread 
upon  the  records  of  Presbytery  and  a  copy  tendered  the  family,  whose  fond 
memories,  deep  sorrow  and  loss  and  bright  hopes  we  share." 

Probably  Mr.  Fulton  served  the  Ebenezer  church  a  few 
months  longer  than  Dr.  Knight's  stay  with  the  first  church  of 
Carthage,  but  the  added  years  Dr.  Knight  gave  to  the  Collegiate 
Institute  make  his  terms  of  active  service  in  the  Presbytery 
longer  than  that  of  any  other  minister.  He  was  moderator  of  the 
Svnod  of  Missouri  in  1882. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  215 

DAVID  L.  LANDEK. 

Born  near  Paris,  Kentucky,  July  23,  1852,  David  Leer  Lander 
entered  Center  College,  was  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  and 
was  compelled  to  leave  school  on  account  of  ill  health  before 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1874.  He  thereupon  went  to  Neosho, 
Mo.,  first  as  a  subordinate  teacher  and  in  three  months  was 
elected  principal.  About  the  same  time  he  was  made  an  elder 
in  the  church,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  and  teacher 
of  the  Bible  class.  Rev.  John  M.  Brown  laid  hands  on  him  and 
started  him  in  a  course  of  theology  which  was  completed  under 
the  tutelage  of  Rev.  B.  P.  Powelson.  Mr.  Lander  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  Grranby  February  22,  1874.  Subsequently  he  taught 
one  term  in  the  Indian  Territory  and  from  there  was  called  to 
minister  to  the  Neosho  church.  Few  men  are  permitted  thus  to 
serve  the  same  church  as  elder,  Sunday  School  superintendent, 
Bible  class  teacher  and  preacher.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ozark  April  29,  1875,  and  ordained  March  11,  1876. 
He  supplied  the  churches  of  Neosho,  Grranby  and  Westminster 
for  four  years  and  was  stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery  from 
September  7,  1877  to  October  8,  1879,  at  which  date  he  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Osage.  He  has  since  served  as  stated 
clerk  in  the  Presbyteries  of  Osage,  Kingston  and  St.  Johns.  Ill 
health  has  caused  Mr.  Lander  to  move  from  state  to  state  and  he 
has  rendered  valuable  services  to  churches  in  Missouri,  Kansas, 
Colorado,  California  and  Tennessee.  He  married  Ella,  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  T.  H.  Allin,  November  1,  1877.  For  some 
vears  Mr.  Lander  has  been  preaching  in  the  Presbvterian  church 
U.  S. 

J.  P.  SOLOMON. 

Rev.  J.  P.  Solomon  was  received  from  the  Waldension  Synod 
September  29,  1876,  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Los 
Angeles  October  2,  1884.  For  a  time  he  served  the  White  Oak 
church  in  connection  with  his  distinguished  service  in  the  Wald- 
ensian  church.  As  a  thing  that  is  unique  in  the  annals  of  the 
Presbytery  resolutions  were  passed  on  his  death  some  time  after 
his  dismissal.  The  resolutions  were  passed  October  21,  1885,  and 
are  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  as  a  Presbytery  we  record  our  sense  of  profound  sor- 
row over  the  death  of  our  brother,  Rev.  John  P.  Solomon,  late  pastor  of 
our  Waldensian  Church,  but  who  recently  removed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Los 
Angeles.  "We  remember  with  heartfelt  appreciation  the  signally  saintly 
life  of  our  brother,  who  came  to  us   from   the  old  martyr  church  of  Pied- 


216  Presbyterianism  IN  Till-:  Ozarks 

mont,  Italy,  and  his  self-sacrificing  labors  among  his  own  people  of  the 
Waldensian  Church.  For  seven  years  he  was  punctual  and  faithful  in  his 
attendance  al  our  meetings,  often  through  great  Belf-sacruice.  Though  his 
Bupporl  was  meager,  he  uncomplainingly  endured  hardness  as  a  good  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  through  an  unfaltering  faith  he  lias  joined  the  sainted 
host  who  have  obtained  a  good  report.  Hoping  to  recreate  his  steadily 
wasting  strength,  he  went  out  to  California,  where  his  life  work  soon  ended, 
and  the  Master  whom  he  so  faithfully  served  sent  down  upon  the  toiling 
servant  the  word  of  reward  and  welcome:  'Well  done  thou  g 1  and  faith- 
ful servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.'  As  a  Presbytery  we  ex- 
tend onr  heartfelt  sympathies  to  her  who  was  the  sharer  of  his  sacrifices 
and  labors,  and  pray  that  she  and  those  who  are  left  without  a  father's  care 
may  all  be  sustained  by  Him  who  has  said.  'I  will  never  leave  thee  nor 
forsake  thee.'  " 

THOMAS  II.  ALLIN. 

Like  his  son-in-law  of  the  last  sketch  but  one,  Thomas  H. 
Allin  proved  his  "aptness  to  teach"  while  yet  a  ruling  elder.  He 
was  a  kind  of  John  the  Baptist  of  the  late  order  of  Local  Evan- 
gelists and  a  worthy  one  he  was  too. 

Mr.  Allin  brought  to  the  ministry  the  equipment  of  a  trained 
legal  mind  and  the  facility  of  speech  of  a  legislator.  He  was 
licensed  September  29,  1876.  and  ordained  March  30,  1877.  Two 
of  his  sons  were  candidates  for  the  ministry  under  care  of  this 
Presbytery  and  a  daughter  married  Rev.  D.  L.  Lander.  Mr.  Allin 
was  a  valuable  assistant  in  evengelistic  services  and  went  out 
into  the  highways  in  quest  of  the  lowly.  To  him  is  traceable  the 
existence  of  a  number  of  our  country  churches.  He  was  strong 
in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  pastorate  and  was  content  to  serve  the 
fields  that  called  for  "hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.'' 
The  churches  of  Grace,  Center,  Preston  and  Trinity  were  blessed 
with  his  ministry. 

DONALD  K.  CAMPBELL. 

To  Donald  K.  Campbell  belongs  the  honor  of  gathering  "the 
elect"  for  the  formation  of  a  Presbyterian  church  at  Webb  City. 
For  some  months  he  had  been  supplying  the  infant  church  in 
Joplin.  On  the  27th  of  March  1877  he  assisted  Rev.  W.  S.  Knight 
in  organizing  the  Webb  City  church  and  throe  days  Inter  he 
united  with  the  Presbytery  by  letter  from  the  Westminster  Pres- 
bytery. He  continued  to  supply  the  Joplin  and  Webb  City 
churches  until  the  .autumn  of  1879  when  he  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Platte. 

G.  E.  BICKXELL. 
Received   from   the  Presbytery   of  Kingston    September   19, 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  217 

1S77:   dismissed   to   Presbytery   of     Emporia      September      1880. 
Served  the  Buffalo  and  Conway  churches. 

BALTHAZAR  HOFFMAN. 

Born  in  Bavaria  January  5,  1828,  educated  in  Munich  and 
Baltimore,  ordained  September  20,  1861,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Served  various  churches  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  Kansas.  Mr.  Hoffman  entered  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  in  September  1878.  He  served  the  church  of  Summit. 
From  here  he  returned  to  Kansas  and  subsequently  became  a 
member  of  Ozark  Presbytery  by  which  he  was  honorably  retired. 

WILLIAM  A.  CRAVENS. 

Received  as  a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Transylvania 
April  2,  1879.  and  was  ordained  the  next  day.  Served  the 
churches  of  Trinity,  Salem  and  Shiloh.  Was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Osage  September  26,  1882. 

HENRY  W.  WOODS. 

Received  by  letter  frow  the  Presbytery  of  Louisville,  U.  S.. 
February  4,  1880,  installed  pastor  of  Joplin  church  February  8, 
1880.  Pastorial  relation  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Woods  dismissed 
to  Presbytery  of  Central  Texas,  U.  S.,  March  11,  1881. 

J.  J.  MARKS. 

James  Junus  Marks  was  born  in  Allegheny  county.  Pa., 
January  10,1809.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  college  in  1830 
and  at  Western  Theological  Seminary  in  1834.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  in  1838^  was  a  missionary  in  Han- 
nibal and  West  Ely,  Mo.,  for  four  years  and  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Quincy,  111.,  1840-1856.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served  as  chaplain  in  the  army.  When  past  seventy-one 
years  of  age  Dr.  Marks  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark 
from  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  April,  13,  1880.  For  a  short 
time  he  supplied  the  Calvary  church  and  for  several  years  was 
pastorial  evangelist  for  the  Presbytery.  Here  he  displayed  exe- 
cutive and  preaching  ability  and  an  energy  that  was  the  marvel 
of  the  Presbytery  for  one  of  his  age.  During  part  of  the  time 
he  served  the  St.  Louis  Presbytery  and  Ozark  as  pastorial  evan- 
gelist. 

CLARK  SALMON.       . 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler  May  4th,   1880: 
dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  Lackawanna   April  2,   1884;  S.  S.  of 


21 8  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE    OZARKS 

Webb  City  1880-82;  also  served  for  a  time  the  Centre  and  Trinity 
churches. 

JOHN  X.  YOUNG. 

The  connection  of  John  X.  Young  with  this  Presbytery  was 
from  May  4th,  1880,  to  March  10th,  1881.  During  this  brief 
period  he  served  the  churches  of  Neosho,  Granby  and  Westmins- 
ter. He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho.  For  some 
months  in  recent  years  he  resided  in  Springfield  and  was  a  con- 
stant worshipper  in  the  church  I  serve.  Later  he  returned  to 
Eureka  Springs.  Ark.  His  scholarly  attainments  and  exempl  a  im- 
piety make  me  wish  that  he  had  given  more  of  the  years  of  his 
prime  to  this  needy  region. 

GEORGE  F.  DAVIS. 

Licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati  1849 :  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler  1851,  Rev.  G.  F.  Davis  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Mattoon  October  5,  1880.  In  April.  1892. 
he  returned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler.  He  was  an  active 
Presbyter  and  home  missionary;  served  the  churches  of  Bellview, 
Mount  Zion.  Grand  Prairie  and  Conway ;  was  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Home  Missions,  and  his  abundant  labors  appear  to 
deserve  a  more  extended  notice  than  I  am  able  to  give. 

GEORGE  W.  NEWELL. 

Received  from  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  March  10,  1881.  Dis- 
missed to  Presbytery  of  Kearney  April  10,  1883.  Served  the 
Mount  Moriah.  Grace  and  Preston  churches. 

DOUGLAS  P.   PUTNAM. 

Dr.  Putnam  was  born  in  Jersey.  Ohio,  and  graduated  at  Wa- 
bash College  in  1867.  After  studying  theology  in  Union  Semi- 
nary one  year  he  completed  his  theological  course  at  Lane  Semi- 
nary in  1876.  He  was  licensed  April  7th.  1869.  and  ordained 
September  15th.  1870,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Portsmouth.  After 
ten  years'  pastorate  in  Monroe.  Michigan,  he  came  to  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Calvary  Church  '81-87.  Shortly  after  his  entrance  upon 
this  work  the  present  house  of  worship  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated. And  during  this  pastorate  the  church  sent  out  colonies  to 
found  the  Second  Church,  the  Westminster  Church,  U.  S.,  and  the 
Central  Congregational   Church.     Notwithstanding  this  a  virile 


<;.    H.    WILLIAMSON 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  219 

ministry  developed  a  strong  church.  In  addition  to  his  abundant 
labors  in  parish  and  Presbytery,  Dr.  Putnam  was  a  regular  cor- 
respondent for  the  New  York  Evangelist.  His  regular  articles 
were  headed  "On  the  Front  Porch."  and  they  were  very  helpful 
in  that  they  did  much  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  East  to  the 
Ozark  region.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri  in 
1885  Drury  College  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  D.  on  Mr.  Put- 
nam in  1886.  On  the  11th  of  October,  1887.  Dr.  Putnam  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Logansport,  and  became  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  of  Logansport.  From  this  pastorate  he  went  to 
another  in  Princeton,  Ind.,  which  was  terminated  in  order  that 
he  might  accept  a  position  on  the  faculty  of  Lane  Seminary.  His 
professorship  was  of  brief  duration.  Death  claimed  him  on  the 
26th  of  March,  1905. 

GEORGE  H.  WILLIAMSON. 

"Three  times  and  out"  is  an  adage  that  does  not  apply  to 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Four  times  Rev.  George  H.  Williamson 
has  united  with  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  as  follows : 

Received  September  29,  1881 ;  dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis  September  16,  1885. 

Received  from  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  April  5,  1886;  dis- 
missed to  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City  September  19.  1894. 

Received  from  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City  October  16.  1895 ; 
dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  Platte  October  26,  1898. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Platte  September  13,  1905: 
placed  by  the  Enabling  Act  of  1907  in  the  Carthage  Presbytery. 

Thus  in  time  he  was  a  member  of  each  of  the  five  Presby- 
teries into  which  the  State  was  divided  prior  to  the  reunion  of 
1907.  Of  all  the  ministers  with  whom  I  am  intimately  acquainted 
it  has  been  the  most  difficult  to  get  an  adequate  and  connected 
account  of  the  ministerial  life  and  labors  of  this  wholesouled 
brother.  I  have  tried  to  interview  him  on  several  occasions,  but 
have  found  that  he  has  been  too  busy  doing  things  to  keep  a 
record  or  even  a  memory  of  the  things  he  has  done.  He  has  built 
nearly  a  score  of  churches  in  this  and  other  Presbyteries  of  the 
State,  and  has  been  recalled  the  second  or  third  time  as  stated 
supply  or  pastor  to  more  churches  than  any  minister  with  whom 
I  am  acquainted.  In  this  list  are  included  such  churches  as 
Monett,  West  Plains,  Ash  Grove,  Lockwood,  Ozark  Prairie,  etc. 
He  has  also  served  our  churches  of  Joplin  First  and  Joplin  Be- 
thany. Mount  Vernon,  Greenfield,  Fair  Play,  Fordland.  Golden 
( !ity,  White  Oak  and  Westminster  of  Carthage,  and  has  served 
the    Presbytery    of    Ozark    as    pastor-at-Iarge.     These    frequent 


220  Pri:sbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

changes  have  been  the  occasion  of  genuine  regrets  on  the  pari 
of  his  parishioners,  but  Mr.  Williamson  has  insisted,  ''I  know- 
when  my  work  is  done."  His  is  the  power  to  develop  rapidly 
the  latent  energies  of  a  people,  to  arouse  them  to  build  a  house 
of  worship — to  take  them  off  of  the  Home  Board  and  to  get  them 
to  sustain  the  benevolences  of  the  church  generously.  He  has 
many  of  the  essentials  of  an  orator,  magnetism,  fervor,  an  au- 
thoritative hearing — a  strong  and  wrell  modulated  voice,  an  ex- 
cellent command  of  language  and  an  unusual  command  of  similes 
and  illustration  drawn  from  observation.  In  my  judgment  the 
Presbytery  has  never  known  his  equal  in  whipping  into  the  line 
of  generous  activity  and  support  ease-loving,  well-to-do  and  some- 
what close-fitted  men.  I  use  the  word  "whipping"  advisedly, 
though  figuratively.  In  the  building  of  his  churches  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson has  been  able  to  draw  the  purse  strings  of  many  men  of 
the  world  as  well  as  of  church  members  from  other  churches 
that  he  has  served.  A  Carthage  paper  gave  this  characterization 
while  Mr.  Williamson  was  serving  the  Westminster  Church : 

"Mr.  Williamson  is  a  man  of  far  more  than  passing  power.  His  ex- 
perience is  wide,  his  sympathies  true,  his  emotions  deep,  his  diction  pure, 
his  voice  cultivated,  his  Biblical  study  profound,  his  thought  clear.  His 
utterance  is  unusually  rapid,  but  his  enunciation  distinct.  He  speaks  not 
to  a  class,  but  takes  it  for  granted  that,  as  Mark  Twain  says,  'There  is  a 
common  chord  of  human  nature  running  through  the  lives  of  all  men,  and 
that  which  is  beneficial  to  one  will  not  prove  injurious  to  another.'  He 
recognizes  no  classes  in  his  work,  but  considers  the  whole  earthly  family 
as  the  children  of  God.  Mr.  .Williamson  is  too  broad  for  a  creed  and  too 
independent  to  be  a  hired  man.  He  looks  upon  every  man  as  his  brother 
and  the  philosophy  of  his  Christianity  would  swing  inward  the  door  of 
eternal  felicity  to  all,  and  he  sepaks  as  one  having  authority,  and  not  as 
one  who,  in  a  spirit  of  doubting,  begs  permission.  He  deals  not  in  pyro- 
technics of  oratory  and  labors  not  even  by  innuendo  to  make  himself  greater 
than  the  cause  he  pleads  for  or  the  Master  he  serves.  He  is  one  in  life 
past  the  milestones  labeled  popularity  and  notoriety,  but  his  pathetic  earn- 
estness and  zeal  will  unconsciously  win  for  him  what  is  sought  for  by 
others  less  gifted  in  vain." 

Very  few  men  of  the  versatile  gifts  and  ability  possessed  by 
Mr.  Williamson  have  been  content  to  supply  home  mission 
churches  and  churches  in  our  secondary  cities  as  long  as  Mr. 
Williamson.  These  churches  have  usually  responded  by  giving 
him  a  better  salary  than  they  have  tendered  other  men.  Mr. 
Williamson  has  spent  his  money  with  a  lavish  hand  and  has 
never  learned  the  art  of  accumulating.  The  Presbytery  of  Ozark 
fittingly  made  him  its  last  Moderator  before  the  reunion,  and  the 
Assembly  as  fittingly  appointed  him  the  convener  of  the  new 
Presbytery  of  Carthage. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  221 

FRANCIS  H.  L.  LAIRD. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Alton  April  11th,  1882; 
died  January,  1884.  This  brother  was  probably  a  retired  minis- 
ter at  the  time  he  entered  the  Presbytery.  I  find  no  notice  of  his 
having  served  any  of  our  churches. 

CHARLES  C.  HEMBREE. 

Received  the  same  day  as  the  subject  of  the  last  sketch 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Union.  Served  the  churches  of  Ash  Grove, 
Mount  Zion  and  Bellview.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kings- 
ton July  30th,  1883. 

FRANK  M.  BALDWIN. 

Born  at  St.  Louis  March  12th,  1850;  graduated  at  West- 
minster College  1874  and  at  Danville  Seminary  1877 ;  licensed  by 
the  Transylvania  Presbytery  April.  1876,  and  ordained  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Mr.  Baldwin  served  churches  in  Kentucky  and 
Illinois,  and  then  entered  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  12th, 
1882.  Supplied  the  churches  of  Neosho  and  Westminster,  and 
was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Transylvania  April  10th, 
1883. 

WILLIAM  B.  McELWEE. 

The  reception  of  this  brother  was  alluded  to  in  the  sketch 
of  the  Eureka  Springs  Church.  That  was  before  the  confession 
was  revised  and  the  Presbytery  had  regard  for  the  tender  con- 
science of  this  Cumberland  brother,  as  is  seen  by  the  entry  in  the 
minutes  for  April  13,  1882:  "The  Committee  of  Conference  with 
Rev.  W.  B.  McElwee  reported  as  follows:  That  they  find  him  in 
substantial  accord  with  our  standards  and  polity,  and  that  he  is 
able  to  give  an  assent  to  our  Confession  of  Faith  as  containing  the 
system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  word  of  God,  it  being  under- 
stood that  he  has  liberty  to  explain  the  article  on  elect  infants 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  mean  that  all  infants  dying  in  infancy 
are  elect  and  saved,  and  the  article  pertaining  to  the  decrees  of 
<;<id  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  take  away  or  interfere  with  the 
free  agency  and  accountability  of  man.  He  heartily  accepts  the 
doctrine  of  election  and  of  the  divine  sovereignty  as  scriptural 
truths,  hut  feels  that  they  should  be  represented  as  consistent 
with  the  free  agency  of  man."  Mr.  McElwee  served  the  Eureka 
Springs  Church  five  and  a  half  years.     During  his  ministrv  the 


222  PRESBYTERIANISM    IN    THE    OZARKS 

beautiful  stone  house  of  worship  was  erected  and  the  church  ex- 
perienced the  most  gracious  revival  in  its  history.  He  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Stockton  April  15th,  1891. 

J.  M.  HUNTER. 

Like  the  subject  of  the  last  sketch.  Mr.  Hunter  was  of 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  lineage.  He  was  ordained  by  the  C.  P. 
Presbytery  of  Elk,  April  10th,  1880.  and  supplied  C.  P. 
churches  in  Canon  City,  Col.,  and  Prescott,  Ark.,  until  his  coming 
to  this  Presbytery  April  12th,  1883.  For  a  year  he  supplied  the 
Neosho  Church,  then  preached  at  West  Plains  for  a  short  time, 
and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  April,  1884.  Mr. 
Hunter  wrote  me  some  time  ago:  "Because  of  the  revision  of 
the  C.  P.  Confession  of  Faith  and  a  controversy  through  the 
church  papers  as  to  whether  the  C.  P.  Church  was  anti-Calvin- 
istic  or  moderately  Calvinistic,  holding  to  the  latter  view,  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.  It  has  ben  the  dream 
of  my  life  to  see  the  C.  P.  Church  follow,  which  dream  has  been 
realized,  at  least  in  reference  to  the  better  Calvinistic  element 
of  the  same." 

FOUNTAIN  R.  FARRAX1). 

The  Pleasant  Valley  Church  gave  Fountain  R.  Farrand  to 
the  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  At  that  time. 
May  4th,  1880,  he  was  a  graduate  at  Centre  College.  He  took  his 
theological  course  at  Western  Seminary — served  under  the  Home 
Missionary  Committee  in  the  intervals  and  upon  his  completion 
of  his  education  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Joplin  Church.  This 
pastorate  was  of  less  than  a  year's  duration.  Mr.  Farrand  was 
ordained  and  installed  May  8th,  1883.  The  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  and  Mr.  Farrand  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Osage  April  3d,  1884.    He  is  a  stepson  of  Rev.  W.  A.  Cravens. 

BENJAMIN  H.  LEA. 

This  name  is  sometimes  spelled  as  above  and  sometimes  it  is 
Lee.  Occasionally  the  middle  initial  is  F  instead  of  II,  and  this 
confusion  in  spelling  seems  to  have  led  the  Presbytery  into  a 
fruitless  search  for  him  after  he  had  been  twice  dismissed — 
having  returned  the  first  letter  unused.  He  was  received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Solomon  May  8th,  1883,  and  was  apparently 
a  colporteur  for  the  American  Tract  Society  in  Arkansas,  and 
was  dismissed  (the  second  time)  to  '  the  Presbvterv  of  Cherokee 
Nation." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  223 

ALBERT  L.  MILLER. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Knoxville,  U.  S.,  May  8th, 
1883.  Supplied  the  churches  of  Madison,  Grace  and  Preston. 
Preached  at  Joplin  a  short  time.  Dismissed  to  the  Southern 
Presbytery  of  Arkansas  September  15th,  1885. 

ROBERT  B.  ATKISSON. 

Received  from  the  C.  P.  Presbytery  of  Springfield  October 
17th,  1883;  dismissed  to  the  Palmyra  Presbytery  April  2d,  1884. 

WILLIAM  E.  RENSHAW. 

The  son  of  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  one  of  the  men  who  laid  the 
foundations  in  Southwest  Missouri,  William  E.  Renshaw  was 
educated  at  Drury  College;  was  a  candidate  for  the  ministry 
under  this  Presbytery  and  on  completing  his  theological  educa- 
tion at  Union  Seminary  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  June 
13th,  1884,  and  was  immediately  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Wood  River. 

EDGAR  A.  HAMILTON. 

Oberlin  College  and  Union  Theological  Seminary  helped  to 
equip  Edgar  A.  Hamilton  for  the  ministry.  He  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton Settlement.  Wisconsin,  March  8th,  1842.  Served  in  the 
Union  Army  from  '61  to  '65.  While  he  was  a  theological  stu- 
dent and  for  a  short  time  thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  mission 
work  in  New  York  City.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York  in  1873  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newton, 
New  Jersev,  the  same  year.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of'Deckertown,  N.  J.,  1873-1883.  June  13th,  1884,  Mr. 
Hamilton  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  For  a  time 
he  supplied  the  Bellview  Church,  and  a  mission  of  the  Calvary 
Church.  His  most  conspicuous  service  in  this  Presbytery  was 
done  in  the  Second  Church  of  Springfield.  In  September,  1885, 
he  became  stated  supply  of  a  small  band  of  people  numbering 
less  than  a  score  of  communicants  and  struggling  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship.  Under  his  ministry  the  church  erected  its 
present  house  of  worship  and  ^rew  to  a  membership  of  consid- 
erably over  a  hundred.  In  Mr.  Hamilton's  own  language,  "With- 
drawals and  removals  affected  its  growth."  He  returned  to  his 
first  charge  in  New  Jersey  in  1893. 


224  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

GILBERT  T.  THOMPSON. 

Rev.  Gilbert  T.  Thompson  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Indian  Territory  September  30th,  1884.  He  supplied  the 
churches  of  Ash  Grove  and  Lockwood,  Ozark  Prairie  and  White 
Oak,  and  rendered  some  service  to  the  Second  Church  in  Spring- 
field. The  organization  of  the  Westminster  (C  S.  i  Church  in 
this  city  led  him  to  decline  a  permanent  engagement  with  the 
Second  Church,  though  the  original  subscription  list  for  the 
building  of  a  house  of  worship  for  said  church  indicates  that  he 
and  his  family  subscribed  more  to  that  project  than  any  other 
family.  Mr.  Thompson  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  La- 
fayette (U.  S.)  September  14th,  1887. 

THOMAS  R.  EASTERDAY. 

The  State  University  of  Illinois  gave  Thomas  R.  Easterday 
degrees  as  follows:  A.  B.  in  1862.  B.  D.  in  1863.  and  A.  M.  in 
1866.  To  these  Pennsylvania  added  Ph.  D.  in  1888.  Of  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  lineage,  on  his  ordination  by  that  body  in  1865  he 
was  transferred  at  once  to  Lake  Superior  Presbytery.  For  sev- 
enteen and  a  half  years  he  was  in  charge  of  the  First  Presbyter- 
ian Church  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  Michigan,  which  he  gave  up  on 
account  of  a  partial  stroke  of  paralysis.  Mr.  Easterday  served 
the  church  of  Webb  City  for  six  months  and  then  went  to  Neosho 
September.  1884.  He  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  that  church, 
but  was  not  installed.  Served  the  church  until  1888.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1902,  he  was  dismissed  to  Lake  Superior  Presbytery. 
For  some  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  educational  work.  Some 
months  ago  he  wrote  me:  "I  occasionally  supply  churches  when 
the  pastors  are  absent,  but  I  am  so  busy  in  my  educational  work 
I  refuse  all  such  work  I  can  be  excused  from.  I  am  President 
of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  of  which  Board 
I  have  been  a  member  thirty-six  years.  I  am  President  of  the 
Carnegie  Library  Board,  of  which  I  am  a  charter  member.  I  am 
Commissioner  of  Schools  for  Chippewa  County,  having  served 
in  this  capacity  twelve  years  and  a  half,  and  having  two  years 
unexpired  of  my  term.  I  am  in  communication  with  nearly  200 
teachers  continuously.  Have  also  many  knotty  school  ques- 
tions to  adjust  with.  say.  300  school  officers  of  various  qualifica- 
tions and  characteristics.  Am  just  about  as  busy  as  a  man  should 
be  in  his  seventieth  year."  While  in  Neosho  Mr.  Easterday 's 
life  was  alike  strenuous.  He  was  something  of  a  promoter  in 
both  educational  and  commercial  enterprises.  The  wealthy 
Wyandotte  Indian,  Splitlog,  had  built  through  Newton  County 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  225 

about  twenty-five  miles  of  railroad  called  the  Splitlog  road,  said 
to  be  the  only  railroad  in  the  United  States  built  by  an  Indian. 
Mr.  Easterday  went  to  Kansas  City  to  see  about  capitalizing  and 
extending  this  road.  The  road  was  absorbed  by  the  Kansas  City 
Southern. 

SAMUEL  PETTIGREW. 

Received  from  Presbytery  of  Oregon  September  15th,  1885 ; 
commissioned  as  a  home  missionary  in  the  Jasper,  Preston  and 
Home  churches.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  Sep- 
tember 14th,  1886. 

EDWIN  P.  KEACH. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  and  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Austin  on  the  same  dates  as  the  above.  Mr. 
Keach  supplied  the  churches  of  Lehigh  and  Webb  City.  He  re- 
turned to  the  Presbytery  April  15th,  1903 ;  served  mission  sta- 
tions in  Arkansas  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Dallas 
(U.  S.)  April  19th,  1905. 

JOHN  FOY. 

Rev.  John  Foy  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Platte 
April  16th,  1886.  The  next  day  a  call  from  the  Ebenezer  Church 
was  placed  in  his  hands  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  in- 
stall him  as  pastor.  It  appears  that  the  installation  was  never 
effected.  Mr.  Foy  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  South 
Florida  April  5th,  1887. 

HENRY  B.  FRY. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Findlay,  1857.  Received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Mahoning  April  16th,  1886,  and  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Fort  Wayne  April  12th.  1892.  Dr.  Fry  was 
S.  S.  of  the  First  Church  of  Joplin. 

A.  M.  TANNER. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids  December 
6th,  1886.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Omaha  October  22 
1890. 


226  Prksbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

HEZEKIAH  R.  LEWIS. 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Lewis  was  recommended  to  tlie  Home  Board 
as  supply  for  the  Golden  City,  Shiloh  and  Salem  churches  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1885,  but  did  not  become  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery until  April  5th,  1887.  at  which  time  he  was  received  by  let- 
ter from  the  Presbytery  of  Topeka.  He  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Topeka  October  17th,  1894. 

JAMES  LAFFERTY. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  April  6th.  1887:  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  April  11th,  1888.  He  served 
the  churches  of  Buffalo  and  Bolivar,  and  during  his  brief  stay 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Presbyterial  Committee  on  Foreign 
Missions. 

JOSEPH  C.  SHEPHARD. 

Received  from  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  of  Springfield 
April  7th,  1887.  Honorably  retired  April  10th,  1894;  served  the 
churches  of  Golden  City  and  Shiloh,  and  preached  some  in  other 
Home  Mission  fields.  Mr.  Shephard  was  a  man  of  eminent  piety 
and  consecration.  The  date  of  his  death  is  unknown  to  the 
writer. 

R.  T.  McMAHAX. 

Rev.  R.  T.  McMahan  was  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Schuyler  and  was  in  the  ministry  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, the  last  six  years  of  which  were  spent  in  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark.  His  name  first  appears  on  the  roll  of  Presbytery  Sep- 
tember 13th,  1887.  He  was  a  man  of  quiet  spirit  and  fidelity. 
and  laid  down  his  work  with  great  reluctance  by  reason  of  ill 
health.  He  ministered  to  the  churches  of  Salem.  Home.  Preston 
and  Lehigh.    Died  January  12th,  1892. 

WILLIS  G.  BANKER. 

Willis  G.  Banker  was  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Fort  Dodge  1885  and  1886.  Before  entering  the  ministry 
he  had  received  a  legal  training.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
Ebenezer  Church  in  September,  1887.  and  three  years  later  the 
pastoral    relation    was    dissolved    and   he    was   dismissed    to   the 


J.    G.    REASER 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  227 

Presbytery  of  Lamed.  To  this  brief  pastorate  Dr.  Banker 
brought  the  vigor  and  aggressiveness  of  his  young  manhood,  and 
the  ability  of  his  pulpit  ministrations  gave  promise  of  the  larger 
work  he  was  to  do  in  the  university  center  of  the  Sunflower 
State. 

JOSEPH  G.  REASER. 

The  eleven  years  ministry  of  Dr.  Reaser  in  the  confines  of 
Ozark  Presbytery  began  a  dozen  years  after  he  had  passed  the 
reputed  dead  line.  Minister,  teacher,  author,  he  had  been  too 
busy,  virile  and  optimistic  to  recognize  that  line  when  he  crossed 
it,  and  not  until  he  had  reached  his  fourscore  years  did  he  find 
time  to  go  back  to  hunt  it.  Joseph  George  Reaser  was  born  at 
Harrelton,  Pa.,  in  1825.  Jefferson  College  gave  him  the  degrees 
of  B.  A.  and  M.  A.  respectively  in  1848  and  1851,  and  Centre 
College,  Ky.,  added  the  D.  D.  in  1868.  He  received  his  theologi- 
cal training  under  the  tutelage  of  Drs.  W.  L.  Breckenridge  and 
James  Wood;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Coshocton  in 
1850  and  ordained  in  1852  by  the  Presbtyery  of  New  Lisbon. 
The  versatile  and  scholarly  attainments  of  Dr.  Reaser  are  only 
suggested  by  the  outline  of  his  labors:  Teacher  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  Louisville,  Ky.,  two  years;  pastor  Canfield.  0.,  '50- '53; 
tutor  Biblical  and  Oriental  Literature  Danville  Theological  Semi- 
nary, Kentucky.  '53- '57;  President  Harrodsburg  Female  College, 
Kentucky,  '57-59 ;  pastor  "Westminster  Church,  Leavenworth, 
Kan.,  '59-75;  pastor  St.  Louis  and  Collinsville,  Mo.,  '75- '85;  pro- 
fessor Metaphysics,  Evidences  and  German,  Westminster  College, 
Fulton,  Mo.,  '85- '87;  professor  Carthage  Collegiate  Institute,  Mo., 
'87- '90;  stated  supply  and  pastor  Presbyterian  Church.  Webb 
City.  Mo.,  '88- '98.  After  leaving  Webb  City,  Dr.  Reaser  taught 
in  Lindenwood  College  for  a  time  and  later  in  Wilson's  College 
at  Chambersburg,  Pa.  In  the  realm  of  authorship  he  published 
interesting  tracts  on  "Infant  Baptism."  "Relation  of  Baptized 
Children  to  the  Church,"  "The  Two  Pictures,"  and  "Manual 
for  Presbyterians."  He  was  the  first  Moderator  of  the  0.  S. 
Synod  of  Kansas,  and  the  first  Moderator  of  that  Synod  at  the 
consolidation  of  the  0.  S.  and  N.  S.  Synods,  and  Moderator  of 
the  Synod  of  Missouri,  1884. 

His  monumental  work  at  Webb  City  is  by  no  means  the  sum 
total  of  his  services  in  this  Presbytery.  While  teaching  in  Car- 
thage he  helped  to  place  the  Monett  and  other  churches  on  a 
solid  foundation.  He-  served  the  Presbytery  as  Chairman  of 
Home  Missions,  and  the  wisdom  of  his  counsel  ofttimes  prevailed 
to  the  good  of  the  whole  Presbytery,whilst  his  genial  optimism 
and  ready  wit  enlivened  our  sessions  and  encouraged  us  to  press 


228  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

on  in  the  midst  of  difficulty.  The  Webb  City  Church  regarded 
liim  as  a  father  and  a  friend,  and  very  few  men  in  the  Presby- 
tery have  left  as  strong  personal  attachments  in  a  field  of  labor 
in  Southwest  Missouri  as  did  he.  Some  of  his  characteristic 
sayings  are  indelibly  impressed  on  my  memory.  He  was  de- 
scribing a  trip  he  had  taken  in  the  East  when  he  said:  "The 
prayer  meeting  was  the  most  homelike  place  I  ever  saw.  In  the 
first  place,  there  were  very  few  there,  and  thai  reminded  me  so 
much  of  our  home  prayer  meeting;  in  the  second  place,  those 
who  came  came  in  late  and  sat  in  the  back  scats,  and  that,  too, 
was  just  like  home,  and  finally  they  all  kept  still  and  let  the 
leader  do  most  of  the  talking,  and  it  did  seem  so  natural."  At 
an  installation  service  on  one  occasion  he  reminded  the  congre- 
gation that  churches  are  constantly  looking  for  preachers  who 
will  draw  and  declared  that  what  is  really  needed  is  congrega- 
tions that  will  draw.  These  and  similar  statements  do  not  have 
the  force  in  cold  type  that  they  had  when  coming  fresh  from  his 
heart  and  accompanied  by  the  genial  smile  and  twinkle  of  his 
bright  eye.  I  record  them  because  of  the  impressions  as  well  as 
the  thought.  Those  who  with  me  cherish  fond  memories  of  the 
man  can  easily  draw  on  imagination  for  that  which  is  lacking  in 
the  description. 

WALTER  SCOTT  LOWRY. 

During  his  post  graduate  course  in  McCormick  Seminary 
1889- '90  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  class  mate  of  mine. 
Prior  to  this  he  had  studied  in  the  Southwest  Presbyterian  Uni- 
versity. John  Hopkins  University,  Md.,  and  New  College  T.  S. 
Edinburgh  Scotland.  He  was  ordained  in  1886  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Dallas.  U.  S.  From  this  Presbytery  he  entered  Ozark 
Presbytery  December  20,  1887  and  served  the  Eureka  Springs 
church.  April  15,  1890  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Vincennes. 

THOMAS  HANN  CLELAND. 

Among  the  gifted  men  who  have  served  the  Calvary  church 
Rev.  Thomas  H,  Cleland  D.  D.  holds  a  conspicuous  place.  Born 
in  Kentucky  in  1843.  he  graduated  at  Center  college  when  twenty 
years  of  age.  By  ancestry,  birthplace  and  training  he  was  en- 
dowed with  a  suavity  of  manner,  gentlemanly  bearing  and 
hospitable  disposition  that  have  made  him  pre-eminently  accep- 
table in  the  pastorate.  To  these  graces  of  manner  he  has  brought 
the  presence  of  generalship  and  the  wisdom  of  studious  habits. 


T.    H.    CLELAND 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  229 

He  received  his  staunch  Calvinstic  training'  at  Danville,  T.  S. 
'63- '65,  and  Princeton  '66.  Wooster  University  conferred  upon 
him  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1871.  Dr.  Cleland  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Missouri  River  in  1867.  He  served 
the  church  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  as  stated  supply  and  pastor 
from  1866  to  1882.  During  this,  his  first  pastorate,  on  the  29th 
of  April,  1869,  he  stood  with  Revs.  Sheldon  Jackson  and  J.  C. 
Elliott  on  a  lofty  bluff  on  the  Missouri  river  at  Sioux  City. 
There  these  three  young  ambassadors  of  the  cross  seemed  to 
sweep  the  whole  unchurched  west  with  a  Pisgah  vision  and  over- 
whelmed with  a  sense  of  the  prospect  and  the  need  of  pentecostal 
power  they  knelt  on  the  spot  and  prayed.  "What  the  haystack 
meeting  at  Williamstown  was  to  Foreign  missions,  that  hilltop 
prayer  meeting  at  Sioux  City  April  29,  1869,  was  to  Home  mis- 
sions. ' '  In  the  providence  of  God  the  lives  of  the  three  have  been 
spared  to  see  a  monument  erected  on  the  spot  to  commemorate 
the  event.  From  Council  Bluffs  Dr.  Cleland  went  to  a  pastorate 
in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  '82- '88.  His  kinsman,  Rev.  Willis  G.  Craig 
D.  D.,  had  but  recently  relinquished  his  pastorate  of  twenty 
years  in  that  church  to  accept  a  professorship  in  the  seminary 
at  Chicago.  And  although  it  is  said  that  the  coat  of  Dr.  Craig 
hung  up  in  an  Iowa  pulpit  would  have  drawn  an  audience  at 
that  time.  Dr.  Cleland  proved  to  be  a  worthy  successor.  His 
third  pastorate  was  in  the  Calvary  church,  Springfield,  Mo.,  '88- 
'94.  Here  his  worth  was  at  once  recognized,  in  the  Presbytery 
and  in  the  Synod,  as  well  as  in  the  city.  He  served  the  Presby- 
tery as  Chairman  of  Home  Missions  and  was  made  Moderator  of 
the  Synod  as  he  had  been  of  the  Synod  of  Iowa,  and  was  later  of 
that  of  Minnesota., Coupled  with  his  suavity  Dr.  Cleland  has 
maintained  a  firmness  in  conviction  and  aptness  in  repartee. 
Just  after  he  had  made  his  Home  Mission  report  on  one 
occasion  a  visiting  minister  whose. record  was  not  the  best  arose 
and  said  in  surly  tones:  "Mr.  Moderator  I  want  a  place  to  preach; 
I  have  come  a  long  way  to  attend  this  Presbytery  and  there  are 
plenty  of  vacant  churches."  To  this  the  chairman  replied:  "My 
brother  you  were  not  invited  here ;  when  you  are  invited  then  we 
will  provide  you  a  place  to  preach." 

After  leaving  Springfield  Dr.  Cleland  went  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Duluth,  Minn.,  and  from 
there  to  the  secretaryship  of  the  American  Tract  Society.  The 
church  has  recognized  his  wisdom  as  a  counsellor  by  calling  him 
at  various  times  to  the  following  positions: 

Delegate  to  the  Pan  Presbyterian  Council,  London ;  President 
of  Trustees  of  McCormick  Theological  Seminary ;  Charter  Direc- 
tor of  the  Board  of  Aid  for  Colleges;  Charter  Trustee  Parsons 
College,  Iowa  ;  Trustee  McA.  C,  Kansas  ;Park  College,  Mo.,  Corn- 


230  Presbyteriamsm  in  the  Ozarks 

iug  Academy,  Iowa,  and  Duluth  Academy;  Chairman  Home  Mis- 
sions Committee  of  Missouri  River  and  Ozark  Presbyteries. 

JOHN  M.  DINSMORE. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  John  M.  Dinsmore  resided  with- 
in the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  and  was  an  actual  member  of  the 
body  from  June  21.  1888.  to  September  15,  1896.  But  he  was 
engaged  in  secular  labors  until  he  reached  the  age  for  honorable 
retirement. 

JOHN   F.    MARTIN. 

Received  from  the  United  Presbyterian  Presbytery  of  South- 
ern Illinois  June  21,  1888.  Served  the  Bolivar  church.  Dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Matoon  April  15,  1891. 

AUGUSTINE  II.  HIBBARD. 

Received  from  the  Springfield  Association  of  Congregational 
churches  November  15,  1888.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York  April  15.  1890. 

ROBERT   W.    ELY. 

When  a  man  is  thoroughly  honest  and  artless  I  love  to  slip 
into  his  biographical  sketch  a  brief  description  of  himself  in  his 
own  words.  To  my  inquiry  for  information  Mr.  Ely  wrote  in 
February  1907:  "I  was  born  in  Washington  county  near  the 
town  of  Washington  and  reared  on  the  farm.  I  owe  the  farm 
life  for  what  vigor  I  have  been  able  to  put  into  my  ministerial 
life.  My  father's  name  was  Elijah,  and  mother's  Kezziah  (Snod- 
grass)  Ely.  I  started  to  college.  Washington  and  Jefferson,  the 
fall  of  '77.  Graduated  '82  and  from  Western  Seminary  in  '85. 
My  wife's  name  is  Jennie  T.  (Shields).  Reared  in  Allegheny 
City  and  of  the  4th  U.  P.  church.  We  have  now  four  daughters, 
Isabel,  born  in  Dakota.  She  graduates  from  Linden  wood  next 
year.  Helen  in  the  high  school  and  will  graduate  in  music  soon. 
Lois  and  Dorothy.  I  think  this  is  enough  of  the  Ely  outfit." 
But  I  cannot  agree  with  his  last  statement.  From  May.  1885.  un- 
til the  fall  of  1888  Mr.  Ely  preached  for  the  church  in  La  Moore, 
Dakota,  thence  he  came  to  Neosho  where  he  had  previously 
preached  two  summers,  i.  e.  1883-4.  His  arduous  labors  were 
never  pent  up  within  that  thriving  city,  although  with  his  own 


R.   W.    ELY 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  231 

hands  he  helped  to  rear  two  manses  and  a  church  building.  He 
preached  all  over  the  country  around  in  school  houses  and  did 
missionary  work  wherever  needed.  For  years  he  ministered  to 
the  churches  of  Westminster  and  Seneca,  making  long  drives  that 
would  have  broken  down  a  man  of  a  less  robust  constitution.  In 
the  summer  of  1903  he  employed  a  theological  student  to  take 
his  place  in  Neosho  whilst  he  rehabilitated  the  country  churches 
of  Grace,  Madison  and  White  Oak.  This  step  was  but  in  keep- 
ing with  his  deep  interest  in  the  whole  field  of  the  Presby- 
tery. From  September  9,  1890,  to  October  22,  1903,  Mr.  Ely  was 
stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  He  represented  the  Presbytery 
in  the  General  Assembly  at  Portland  in  '92,  and  at  Los  Angeles 
in  1903.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri  in  1897. 
In  the  true  Biblical  sense  Mr.  Ely  was  the  Bishop  of  Neosho.  I 
have  a  mind  to  denominate  him  a  diocesan  bishop  for  in  an  im- 
portant sense  the  "care  of  all  the  churches"  seemed  to  rest  upon 
him.  His  oversight  extended  to  the  minutial  of  the  lives  of  his 
flock  and  his  strong  personality,  directness  and  integrity  enabled 
him  to  brush  aside  technicalities  and  conventionalities  in  the 
accomplishment  of  his  wise  or  beneficient  purposes.  He  asked 
after  the  old  paths  and  was  probably  the  most  strictly  and  strong- 
ly theological  preacher  in  the  Presbytery.  To  me  at  least  it 
seemed  that  a  visit  to  Winona  deflected  his  thought  and  labors 
to  a  more  evengelistic  turn — an  enrichment  of  an  already  rich 
ministry  of  love.  Mr.  Ely  has  an  enviable  record  of  bringing 
offenders,  lay  and  clerical  to  their  knees  in  penitence.  I  used  to 
think  of  him  as  a  general  regulator  (in  the  best  sense)  of  men  and 
churches.  The  story  goes  that  on  one  occasion  a  licentiate  from 
the  Territory  took  lodcinc  ;n  a  Neosho  hotel  with  a  woman  not 
his  wife.  Ely  went  to  the  hotel,  demanded  admittance  and 
threatened  to  break  in  the  door  if  denied.  I  suppose  it  never 
occurred  to  him  that  he  was  assuming:  the  place  of  a  civil  officer, 
or  rushing  in  unarmed  on  what  might  be  a  dangerous  place.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  he  gained  admittance,  delivered  some  wholesome 
advice  and  informed  the  Presbytery  in  the  Territory  that  if 
they  did  not  handle  the  man  "we"  would !  And  that  Presbytery 
handled  him!  When  one  of  our  own  men.  proved  to  be  a  moral 
direlect  Ely  brought  him  to  his  knees  and  elicited  a  full  confes- 
sion. When  the  time  came  for  trial  by  Presbytery  Ely  had  the 
scene  fresh  in  memory  and  was  prenared  thereby  to  be  more 
lenient  than  some  of  the  rest  of  us.  But  when  the  penitent  ( ?) 
was  about  to  leave  out  some  of  the  most  salient  Darts  of  the  con- 
fession Ely  exclaimed:  "You  are  crawfishing  old  fellow,  tell  the 
Presbytery  what  yon  told  me,"  and  the  whole  story  was  told. 
Another  one  too  good  to  keen  comes  by  way  of  some  women  with 
"Woman's  Rights"  proclivities.     Thev  say  there  was  a  time  when 


2^2  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  Neosho  Church  was  deficienl  in  men  and  who  would  conduct  a 
prayer  meeting.  Ely  knew  this,  hut  had  his  convictions  about 
women  speaking  in  public.  When  compelled  to  be  away  on 
Wednesday  night  he  would  studiously  avoid  Leaving  any  one  in 
charge  of  the  prayer  meeting,  and  the  women  would  go  there  and 
run  it.  These  innocent  eccentricities  help  to  differentiate  the 
man  whose  personality  was  so  indelibly  and  favorably  ;  tamped 
upon  the  church  and  Presbytery.  The  reclamations  of  erring 
ones  made  in  his  study,  the  tenderer  niinistenes  of  his  personal 
touch  and  recorded  on  high  and  must  remain  sealed  for  the  most 
part  until  "the  hooks  are  opened." 

JAMES  E.  LEYDA. 

Mr  Leyda  has  twice  heen  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ozark,  the  first  time  from  April  10,  1889,  to  October  17.  1894.  at 
which  time  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Platte.  During 
this  first  term  he  served  the  church  of  West  Plains.  Subse- 
quent to  a  brief  sojourn  in  the  bounds  of  Platte  Presbytery  he 
entered  upon  the  work  at  Jonesboro,  Ark.,  in  1897,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis.  Sometime  arter  that 
church  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  he  again 
united  wdth  this  Presbytery.  Before  Mr.  Leyda  was  aware  of 
what  was  transpiring  his  Jonesboro  church  had  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  U.  S.,  and  notice  of  this  transfer  was  secured 
by  the  stated  clerk  while  Mr.  L.  was  attending  Presbytery.  An 
interesting  investigation  was  made  by  a  commission,  which  ad- 
judged damages  to  the  minister  unceremoniously  deprived  of  a 
job,  and  although  the  recalcitrant  church  readily  paid  the  dam- 
ages and  the  aggrieved  minister  ,-iccepteJ  the  same,  he  appealed 
tin  case  to  Syuid  as  against  the  commission.  The  writer 
chanced  to  be  a  member  of  that  commission  as  well  as  stated 
clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  gave  the  ap- 
j  .'.ant  asked  t"  t'dvi-.-e  repeatedly  in  the  preparation  of 
his  appeal  as  against  himself  and  others  in  the  former  capacity. 
Synod  tried  the  case  by  commission,  and  left  the  verdict  of  Pres- 
bytery's commission  intact  but  appended  an  admonition  to  the 
effect  that  there  were  certain  irregularities.  I  pointed  out  to 
the  chairman  of  Synod's  commission  the  fact  that  said  commission 
committed  the  same  irregularity  for  which  they  reproved 
Presbytery's  commission.  He  replied:  "I  know  it."  Then-said 
I,  "where  is  our  redress?"  To  this  he  replied:  "you  can  appeal 
to  the  Assembly  and  have  the  Synod  censured  for  irregularity." 
But  we  thought  it  was  not  worth  the  whistle.  The  church  was 
left  where  it  belonged  in  the  southern  fold. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  233 

ROBERT  SCOTT  STEVENSON. 

The  University  of  Indiana  and  the  McCormick  Seminary 
trained  Mr.  Stevenson  for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  was 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Belief  on  taine,  '85 
and  '86;  served  the  church  of  Madison,  South  Dakota.  '86- '89. 
then  in  '90  entered  upon  his  labors  with  the  Eureka  Springs 
church.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  April  16.  1890,  and 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Cairo  April  12,  1308. 

JAMES  A.  GERHARD. 

Prior  to  the  coming  of  James  A.  Gerhard  to  the  Presbytery 
the  Joplin  church  which  he  served  as  pastor  elect  for  nearly  six 
years  had  not  made  much  progress.  In  1890  he  found  that  church 
with  scarcely  more  than  half  a  hundred  members  ^nd  he  left  it 
with  over  two  hundred,  easily  self  supporting  and  reaching  out 
in  Mission  work  in  the  needy  sections  of  the  growing  city. 

Mr.  Garhard  received  his  literary  education  in  his  native 
state.  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  at  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1874.  After  study  and  travel  in  Europe  for  two  years 
he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Kearney.  He  served  the 
churches  of  North  Platte.  Nebraska.  '76- '81;  Hamburg,  Iowa, 
'81- '83,  Maryville,  Mo',  '83- '90,  from  Joplin  '90- '96  he  went  to 
Galena,  Kansas. 

DWIGHT  C.  HANNA. 

Born  Savana,  Ohio,  December  7,  1859;  graduated  1883, 
Princeton  Seminary  1886 ;  ordained  June  1,  1886.  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  North.  Pastor  Tomkson  Memorial  church 
Brownsburg,  Pa.,  June  1,  1886,  to  August  11,  1890.  The  work  of 
Mr.  Hanna  in  Ozark  Presbytery  is  very  modestly  and  very  ac- 
curately described  in  a  letter  written  to  the  author  January  5. 
1907. 

"My  Dear  Mr.  Stringfielcl: — I  am  glad  you  are  going  to  write  a  his- 
tory of  Ozark.  My  work  in  Ozark  was  very  peculiar.  My  work  in  the 
Westminster  Church  seemed  to  be  remarkably  successful,  and  I  think  it 
really  was  so.  But  it  has  all  been  scattered  long  since.  Scarcely  any  of  my 
Carthage  people  remained  in  Carthage  very  long  after  I  left.  The  organ- 
ization is  gone.  The  beautiful  little  church  we  built  is  no  longer  used  for 
a  church.  T  have  before  me  the  figures  of  growth  while  I  was  there — 
charter  members  63;  we  added  by  letter  95  and  by  profession  114  in  the 
little  more  than  four  years  I  was  with  the  church,  and  T  left  a  church'  of 
213  very  active  working  members.  All  this  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
financial  cyclone  struck  the  country  just  after  we  started  and  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town  was  going  down,  down  all  the  time  I  was  there.     But  how 


234  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

quickly  it  all  scattered!  After  leaving  Carthage  I  spent  three  years  and 
nine  months  as  pastor  of  the  Second  Church,  Springfield,  111.,  and  then  No- 
vember 1st,  1899,  came  here  as  pastor  of  Leverington  Presbyterian  Church, 
located  at  Ridge  and  Leverington  avenues,  Philadelphia,  in  the  section  of 
the  city  locally  known  as  Roxboro.  I  am  l  >w  in  my  eighth  year  here,  and 
perhaps  likely  to  remain  here.  When  the  book  is  out  please  send  me  a  copy, 
for  which  I  will  be  glad  to  forward  my  dollar. ' ' 

Mr.  Ilanna  was  president  of  Carthage  Collegiate  Institute 
September  '90  to  '92,  and  served  the  Westminster  church  as  stated 
supply  and  pastor  September  6,  91,  to  January  28,  '96. 

The  Presbytery  has  never  had  a  more  efficient  chairman  of 
young  people's  work  than  was  he  and  he  was  also  quite  efficient  as 
a  helper  in  evengelistie  services. 

HENRY  MARTIN  CAMPBELL. 

The  stay  of  this  brother  in  our  bounds  whs  all  too  brief  for 
the  good  of  the  Presbytery.  Born,  Congress,  Ohio.  1861.  Wooster 
U.  B.  A.  '87,  M.  A.  '90.  Princeton  T.  S.  '90.  Ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ozark  September  11,  1890.  Served  the  churches  of 
Monett  and  Lehigh.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas 
City  August  7,  1891. 

JOHN  ROSS  GASS. 

In  the  inner  circle  of  my  ministerial  friends  whose  portraits 
hang  on  the  walls  of  memory  I  am  glad  to  find  the  genial  face 
and  manly  form  of  that  manly  man  and  friendly  friend,  John  R. 
Gass.  How  often  we  have  taken  sweet  counsel  together!  The 
following  sketch  is  taken  from  La  Aurora,  published  at  Las 
Vegas,  New  Mexico,  September  1,  1906. 

"We  have  the  privilege  this  week  of  presenting  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
life  of  our  energetic  and  greatly  esteemed  Synodical  Missionary,  the  Rev. 
John  Ross  Gass,  of  Albuquerque,  who  is  now  nearing  the  close  of  his  first 
year  of  service  in  that  important  office.  Like  his  predecessors  in  this 
synodical  position,  Mr.  Gass  is  descended  from  'true  blue'  Presbyterian 
stock,  his  ancestors  on  both  sides  of  the  family  having  been  Presbyterians 
as  far  back  as  the  traditions  of  the  houses  can  trace  their  origin.  He  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  where  his  ancestry  had  lived  for  three  generations  back; 
the  Gasses  coming  from  Ireland  and  the  Blackburns  and  Caldwells  from 
England  by  way  of  Virginia,  passing  over  from  the  Old  Dominion  across 
the  Alleghanies  into  Tennessee  in  the  famous  pioneer  days  of  "The  Cross- 
ing." As  in  many  such  families,  there  has  always  been  a  distinct  strain  of 
ministerial  blood  in  the  Gass  race,  and  at  present  four  grandsons  of  his 
mother's  father,  who  was  a  sturdy  and  typical  Presbyterian  elder,  are  in 
the  active  ministry.  From  this  same  race  came  the  famous  preacher,  mis- 
sionary and  educator,  the  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn,  D.  D.,  once  President 
of  Centre  College,  Kentucky,  and  founder  of  Blackburn  University  in  Illi- 
nois. 


J.   R.   GASS 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  235 

Mr.  Gass'  father,  who  died  when  his  boy  was  but  six  years  old,  was  a 
firm  believer  in  the  covenant-keeping  God.  He  named  the  son  after  a 
minister  whom  he  admired  greatly,  and  on  the  day  of  his  baptism  conse- 
crated the  boy  to  the  gospel  ministry,  although  the  boy  himself  was  never 
told  of  this  until  he  had  decided  to  prepare  for  the  ministry.  His  college 
course  was  taken  at  Greenville  and  Tusculum,  the  oldest  college  in  Ten- 
nessee, founded  in  1794,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1881.  After 
studying  theology  two  years  at  Lane  Seminary  he  took  his  final  year  at 
McCormick  Seminary,  Chicago,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1884. 

' '  Mr.  Gass '  first  parish  was  the  old  Kingsport  Church,  Tennessee,  where 
he  had  supplied  during  seminary  vacations,  the  church  founded  and  served 
for  many  years  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Ross,  for  whom  he  was  named.  After  two 
and  a  half  years  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church  at  Sigour- 
ney,  Iowa,  and  remained  in  that  field  over  four  years.  Here  on  January  8, 
1891,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elsie  Brinton  Lowe,  whose  uncle 
had  previously  been  pastor  of  the  Sigourney  Church  for  many  years,  and 
whose  family  has  had  the  distinction  of  supplying  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
with  many  ministers.  From  Sigourney  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gass  went  to  the 
charge  at  Greenfield,  Mo.,  the  oldest  church  in  the  Ozark  Presbytery,  and, 
as  he  himself  describes  it,  'one  of  the  most  delightful  charges  a  minister 
ever  had.'  When  they  had  given  eight  years  of  service  in  this  parish,  it 
became  evident  on  account  of  Mrs.  Gass'  health  that  a  sunnier  climate 
must  be  sought,  and  in  the  fall  of  1898  they  came  to  Silver  City,  Mr.  Gass 
taking  the  joint  charge  of  Silver  City  and  Deming.  When  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  charge  was  divided  Mr.  Gass  elected  to  serve  the  Silver  City 
Church,  in  which  he  filled  a  most  successful  pastorate  for  the  next  six  years. 
At  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  Las  Vegas  in  October  last  Mr.  Gass  received 
the  appointment  to  the  office  of  Synodical  Missionary,  becoming  thus  the 
third  to  serve  the  Synod  of  New  Mexico  in  that  capacity.  In  this  position, 
30  exacting  in  its  nature,  Mr.  Gass  has  shown  high  executive  ability  and 
has  accomplished  a  fruitful  year's  work.  Possessed  of  earnest  sincerity, 
quick  sympathies,  genial  and  courteous  manners,  ready  tact  and  unfailing 
considerateness  and  patience,  he  wins  friends  for  the  church  and  its  work 
wherever  he  goes.  Mr.  Gass  is  an  able  and  attractive  preacher,  gladly  wel- 
comed to  all  pulpits.  This  together  with  his  record  as  a  faithful  anc?  suc- 
cessful pastor  warrants  us  in  predicting  for  him  wide  and  increasing  useful- 
ness in  his  present  synodical  capacity." 

While  in  this  Presbytery  Mr.  Gass  served  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  publication  and  Sabbath  School  work ;  and  devoted 
to  that  work  his  characteristic  zeal  and  efficiency.  His  Alma 
Mater  conferred  on  him  the  title  of  Doctor  or  Divinity  in  1906. 
Two  incidents  are  characteristic  of  the  man :  While  pastor  of  the 
Greenfield  church  he  supplied  the  Lockwood  church  for  a  time 
on  Sunday  afternoon.  One  Sunday  a  young  minister  came  by 
train  to  that  town  in  order  that  he  might  call  on  a  young  lady. 
This  riding  on  the  train  on  Sunday  was  considered  by  Mr.  Gass 
such  a  reproach  on  the  ministry  that  he  gave  the  young  brother  a 
sound  lecture,  and  expressed  his  indignation  that  his  own  efforts 
to  build  up  the  kingdom  of  righteousness  should  be  so  neutraliz- 
ed. The  last  time  I  met  him  was  in  the  corridor  of  the  building 
where  the  Assembly  of  1908  was  held.  While  we  were  talking  a 
minister  whom  he  had  known  in  boyhood  came  along.    He  threw 


236  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

his  arms  around  the  Tennesseean's  neck  and  exclaimed  "the  last 
time  I  saw  you — you  were  wearing  aprons;  lets  tr<>  and  play  a 
u;iiiic  of  marbles." 


JAY  C.  HA XX A. 

This  brother  of  Dwight  C.  Ilanna  followed  Dwighl  thro?:gh 
Wooster  (1888)  Princeton  (1891)  and  to  Southwest  Missouri. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  July  14.  1891,  served 
the  Ash  Grove,  Willard  and  Mt.  Zion  churches  and  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Platte  April  12.  1893. 

JOHN  I.  HUGHES. 

A  native  of  Wales,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  America 
in  1869  and  was  ordained  in  1875.  For  a  time  he  served  Welsh 
.Calviristic  churches  but  entered  the  Presbyterian  church  in  1887. 
His  ministry  in  this  church  was  confined  to  various  churches  in 
the  Synods  of  Missouri  and  Kansas.  He  was  received  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ozark  July  14,  1891.  Served  the  churches  of  Lock- 
wood  and  White  Oak  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Neosho  September  12,  1893,  and  died  at  Burton.  Kansas.  Nov- 
ember 28,  1906. 


GEORGE  H.  DUTY. 

George  H.  Duty  studied  in  McGee  and  Westminster  colleges 
for  a  time  and  read  theology  under  Dr.  Bowen  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  U.  S.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Kirksville 
(Cumberland)  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  Sept- 
ember 1887. 

After  service  of  four  years  in  Iowa  he  entered  Ozark  Pres- 
bytery September  15,  1891.  and  acted  as  S.  S.  of  the  Bolivar 
church.  From  there  he  went  to  a  mission  in  South  Joplin  where 
he  led  the  people  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  He  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  October  18,  1893. 

HENRY  B.  JOHNSON. 

Received  October  20,  1891,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Aberdeen. 
Served  the  church  of  Golden  City,  dismissed  to  the  Presbyterv  of 
Larnecl  September  14.  1892. 


E.    E.    STRINGPIELD 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  237 

FRANCIS   M.  HICKOCK. 

This  valiant  soldier  of  the  cross  counted  not  the  obstacle  of 
blindness  a  barrier  to  a  finished  education  as  a  preparation  for 
the  ministry.  Born  in  Xelsonville.  Ohio.  May  28.  1844,  he  gradu- 
ated at  the  Iowa  college  for  the  blind  in  1870  and  at  McCormick 
Seminary  in  1873.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chicago 
in  72  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Nebraska  City  '75. 
After  serving  various  churches  in  Nebraska  he  came  to  Southwest 
Missouri,  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  12.  1892, 
and  faithfully  and  acceptably  served  the  churches  of  Salem.  Irwin 
and  Preston.  His  sermon  preached  before  Presbytery  on  the 
text:  "Therefore  we  conclude  that  a  man  is  justified  by  faith" 
made  such  on  impression  on  my  mind  that  I  remember  it  to  this 
dav.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Albany  Sept- 
ember 18.  1894. 

EUGENE  EDWARD  STRINGFIELD. 

Write  me  as  one  who  loves  the  Presbyterian  Church.  If  in 
accordance  with  the  merits  of  their  subjects  this  sketch  is  out  of 
proportion  to  those  that  accompany  it.  let  it  be  bourne  in  mind 
that  this  deals  with  ideals,  they  with  realities.  For,  as  a  man 
usually  lacks  the  rare  discernment  to  estimate  at  its  true  worth 
his  own  contribution  to  the  world's  weal  or  woe.  it  seemed  best 
to  me  either  to  say  nothing  about  the  part  I  have  had  in  making 
the  history  herein  given  and  (with  compliments  to  Sir  Christo- 
pher Wren)  to  say  to  the  reader:  "If  you  would  see  my  monu- 
ment look  within;"  or  else  to  tell  the  unadorned  story  of  my 
life  and  to  present  the  ideals  I  have  striven  with  many  shortcom- 
ings to  realize.  Ont  of  deference  to  my  family  and  friends  (per- 
haps to  myself  also)  I  have  chosen  the  latter  alternative. 

I  was  born  in  Whitesboro,  Texas,  November  12th,  1863 — the 
seventh  of  nine  children  born  to  Perry  and  Emnor  (Dishman) 
Stringfield.  The  tlrrd  child — a  son — died  in  infancy.  Five  sis- 
ters are  older  and  one  sister  and  brother  are  younger  than  I  am. 
My  parents  were  Kentnckyans  who  migrated  to  Missouri,  then 
to  Texas  and  after  the  war  returned  to  Missouri.  They  were 
slave  owners  and  had  amassed  a  competence  but  were  strongly 
union  in  their  sentiments  and  sacrified  their  earthly  possessions 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  war.  At  its  close  in  a  devastated  land, 
they  found  themselves  stripped  of  earthly  resources  save  faith 
and  courage  and  industry,  and  rich  only  in  traits  of  heart  and 
mind  and  in  the  possession  of  eight  non-productive  children.  In 
time  the  older  girls  became  proficient  school  and  music  teachers 


238  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

and  contributed  materially  to  the  support  of  the  family.    A  "lit- 
tle brother,"  as  I  was  called,  in  a  large  family  of  large  girls  and 
of  a  delicate  mould  I  was  shielded  from  the  temptations  and  pit- 
falls that  beset  the  pathway  of  many  boys.     Notwithstanding  all 
these  precautions,  from  the  farm   hands  I   heard  profanity   and 
vulgarity  of  which  my  parents  never  dreamed  of  until  I  came  to 
that  age  when  I  had  as  soon  a  man  would  slap  me  in  the  face  as  to 
tell  an  obscene  story  in  my  presence.     I  have  sometimes  thought 
that  perchance  the  national  troubles  at  the  time  of  my  birth  and 
the   extra  precautions  that   were  taken  to   shield  me  ■  from  the 
temptations  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  other  boys  were  in  part  respon- 
sible for  two  traits  of  character  of  which  I  have  always  been  con- 
scious, i.  e.,  a  partially  abnormal  seriousness  in  countenance  and 
views  of  life,  and  a  timidity  in  social  relations  with  men.     My 
mother  was  so  familiar  with  the  language  of  the  Bible  that  when 
a  mistake  was  made  by  one  reading  it  aloud  she  could  correct 
the  reader  without  looking  on  the  book.     While  privileged  to 
attend  school  less  than  a  twelve  month,  my  father  often  worked 
"by  head,"  and  in  a  few  minutes  problems  in  arithmetic  that 
puzzled  the  older  girls  in  high  school  for  an  hour,  and  if,  as  was 
often  the  case,  he  was  half  asleep  in  one  room  and  one  of  the 
girls  practicing  on  the  piano  at  the  other  end  of  the  house  made 
a  mistake  the  discord  would  instantly  arouse  him.     The  influence 
of  my  mother  was  so  silent  and  so  much  a  part  of  myself  that  I 
am  scarcely  more  conscious  of  it  than  I  am  of  the  time  of  my 
birth.    I  do  not  remember  the  time  I  did  not  love  the  Lord.    But 
some  how  or  other  the  impression  was  made  on  my  mind  that 
church  membership  was  not  for  children ;  and  therefore  I  did  not 
publicly  profess  my  faith  in  Christ  until  I  was  in  my  sixteenth 
year.     An  older  sister  asserts  that  from  infancy  I  was  dedicated 
to  the  ministry;  but  I  do  not  remember  that  the  work  of  the 
ministry  was  ever  presented  to  me  until  I  had  concluded  my  first 
year  in  college.     When  I  was  on  the  eve  of  making  a  personal 
profession  of  faith  in  Christ  the  first  and  only  person  who  ever 
spoke  to  me  on  the  subject  of  accepting  Christ  was  my  father — 
and  by  his  sick-bed  I  said,  I  will.    During  my  first  summer  vaca- 
tion from  college  I  was  plowing,  for  a  few  days  I  had  been  think- 
ing that  probably  I  ought  to  be  a  minister.     There  was  no  con- 
scious resistance,  but  rather  a  perplexity  as  to  whether  or  not 
this  was  the  call  of  duty.     Father  came  out  to  the  field,  took 
hold  of  the  handles  of  the  plow  and  while  I  followed  made  known 
his  desire — but  asked  me  to  take  time  for  reflection.     I  replied, 
No,  I  have  been  thinking  about  it ;  I  will  enter  the  ministry.    In 
1882  the  Presbyterians  started  a  school  in  Sedalia  known  as  the 
Sedalia  University.     I  was  one  of  the  earliest  students  on  the 
ground  and  remained  there  the  entire  period  of  the  history  of 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  239 

the  institution — five  years.    A  full  college  curriculum  was  adopt- 
ed at  the  beginning  and  at  sundry  times  the  school  bid  fair  to  be 
a  large  and  important  one.     But  internal  dissensions  oft  recur- 
ing  and  the  lack  of  financial  support  led  to  its  downfall.    At  the 
Christmas  holidays  of  my  senior  year  a  change  in  the  faculty  re- 
sulted in  my  two  class-mates  leaving  the  institution  and  I  was 
left  to   graduate   alone — June,  1887 — the  first   and  only  college 
graduate  the  institution  ever  had.    It  did  not  survive  the  shock ! 
The  school  never  opened  its  portals  again.     The  buildings  were 
converted  into  a  railroad  hospital  and  subsequently  burned.  Two 
under-graduates,   Wm.   Sickles  and  George  Keithley,  completed 
their  course  at  Westminster  College  and  after  graduation  at  Mc- 
Cormick   Seminary   entered   the   Presbyterian   ministry.      I   had 
preceded  them  at  McCormick.     My  father  wanted  me  to  go  to 
Danville,  Ky.     That  institution  numbered  but  ten  students  at 
that  time.    And  I  suspected  that  father  had  ulterior  motives.    In 
his  estimation  no  women  were  quite  equal  to  those  reared  in  Old 
Kentucky.     And  I  was  approaching  marriageable   age!     But  I 
said  that  I  had  spent  five  years  in  a  small  institution  and  that 
now  I  wanted  to  come  in  contact  with  a  larger  student  body — 
and  for  once  father  gracefully  yielded  to  my  wishes.     "All  is 
well  that  ends  well."    I  married  a  lady  of  Kentucky  birth  and 
father  lived  long  enough  to  lavish  on  her  the  wealth  of  affection 
Jacob  held  for  the  sons  of  Joseph.     The  small  schools  and  the 
large  schools  each  have  their  advantages,  and  I  am  glad  that  I 
passed  through  both.     In  the  former  special  opportunities  were 
afforded  in  the  realms  of  composition  and  oratorical  work,  and 
for  personal  contact  with  the  teachers.     In  the  latter  broader 
views  were  gained  by  contact  with  more  varied  intellectual  activ- 
ity.    In  later  years  I  have  frequently  seen  nominal  members  of 
large  churches  transplanted  to  small  churches  where  they  devel- 
oped unthought  of  powers  of  usefulness.    And  some  of  these  have 
afterwards  taken   important   places   in   large   churches  to  which 
they  subsequently  removed. 

Just  before  graduation  in  1890  I  offered  myself  to  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions,  but  after  conference  with  one  of  the  secre- 
taries on  account  of  the  condition  of  my  eyes  and  my  general 
health  it  seemed  best  not  to  enter  the  foreign  mission' work.  T 
then  turned  to  the  Home  Mission  field  and  accepted  the  pastorate 
at  Unionville.  Mo.  I  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra 
April  10th,  1890,  and  remained  with  that  church  two  years  hav- 
ing married  one  of  the  flock  in  the  meantime— Miss  Mary  E 
Eareekson.  In  April.  1892,  I  took  charge  of  the  Mount  Vernon 
and  Ozark  Prairie  churches,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Presbvtery 
of  Ozark  the  14th  of  that  month.    For  three  years  I  remained  as 


240  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

stated  supply  of  these  churches  and  then  entered  upon  the  work 
of  the  pastorate  of  the  Second  Church  in  Springfield,  whexe  I  was 
installed  as  pastor  May  9th,  1895.  To  this  work  I  have  given  the 
hest  years  and  the  hardest  work  of  my  life.  Progress  has  been 
painfully  slow,  hut  the  sowing  in  tears  has  issued  In  the  reaping 
of  at  least  some  sheaves.  Frequently  we  have  been  made  to  re- 
joice by  the  reports  of  efficient  services  performed  far  away  by 
those  who  had  their  training  here.  The  church  reached  self-sup- 
port in  October,  1900,  built  a  manse  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $1,900  the 
following  year  and  has  spent  on  improvements  and  repairs  not  far 
from  $2,000. 

I  have  always  received  more  commendation  for  my  work  in 
the  city  and  in  the  Presbytery  than  for  my  work  in  the  local 
church ;  and  I  am  not  sure  but  that  my  work  as  a  Presbyter  has 
given  me  more  satisfaction  than  any  other.  Certainly  it  has 
brought  more  criticism.  I  think  1  have  received  two  words  of 
criticism  for  every  word  of  approbation.  The  former  generally 
came  from  those  for  whose  opinions  I  cared  the  least,  and  the  lat- 
ter from  those  I  esteemed  the  most.  This  has  led  some  to  think 
that  I  am  immune  from  such  wounds.  One  with  whom  I  had  sev- 
eral tilts  said:  "Criticism  hurts  me,  but  you  can  sifjnd  up  all 
day  and  let  a  man  throw  brickbats  at  your  abdomen."  But, 
gentler  reader,  I  will  confide  to  you  the  secret  that  I  have  felt 
where  I  have  not  winced.  The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  had  fallen 
into  the  habit  of  ordaining  practically  every  applicant.  The  so- 
called  "exceptional  cases"  far  outnumbered  the  "regulars."  Be- 
yond the  confines  of  the  State  even  it  was  known  that  this  was 
an  exceptionally  loose  Presbytery  in  regard  to  qualifications  for 
ordination.  Ten  or  twelve  years  ago  I  concluded  that  the  wel- 
fare of  the  church  demanded  that  we  stop  letting  down  the  bars 
so  often ;  that  if  a  man  was  to  be  ordained  without  the  standard 
of  education  laid  down  in  the  book,  or  if  he  came  from  another 
denomination,  he  must  first  give  evidence  of  efficiency,  of  a  will- 
ingness  to  get  down  to  study  (rather  than  a  pride  in  the  fact  that 
he  had  never  been  to  college)  and  of  acceptability  to  our  churches. 
For  the  most  part  the  elders  in  our  churches  felt  the  need  of  men 
to  such  an  extent  that  they  wanted  to  ordain  almost  every  appli- 
cant. The  change  in  this  respect  was  voiced  by  one  of  the  elders 
in  these  words:  "I  used  to  say  there  is  a  poor  fellow  who  wants 
to  preach.  I  could  not  stand  to  listen  to  him,  but  maybe  some 
church  will.  I  now  think  of  the  poor  church  first."  As  to  the 
ministers,  I  often  envied  the  serenity  of  those  lovely,  godly  men 
who  had  such  sweet  confidence  that  God  would  take  care  of  his 
own,  even  though  we  were  not  careful.  I  know  they  slept  more 
peacefully  after  Presbytery  than  I  did.  But  I  just  could  not  help 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  241 

actino-  on  my  judgment  rather  than  my  sentiment,  and  so  a  small 
band°of  us  began  to  say  we  must  exercise  more  care  in  admitting 
candidates  to  the  Holy  Ministry.  In  a  Presbytery  that  changed 
so  rapidly  one  soon  found  himself  one  of  the  older  men  in  point 
of  service,  and  if  he  took  a  decided  stand  kindred  minds  thrust 
him  into  a  sort  of  leadership.  Many  a  time  and  oft  have  I  been 
told  of  things  that  "ought  to  be  done"  when  the  narrator  assured 
me  that  he°could  not  lead  out  in  the  doing  of  them  because  it 
would  hurt  him  worse  than  it  would  me.  Other  helpers  came  and 
when  the  Old  Ozark  gave  place  to  the  new  at  the  time  of  the  re- 
union we  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  standard  of 
qualification  for  the  ministry  was  at  least  as  high  in  this  as  in 
other  Presbyteries  of  the  State.  In  January,  1902,  I  was  elected 
Chairman  of  Home  Missions,  and  held  that  position  until  I  re- 
signed to  accept  the  Stated  Clerkship  September  15th,  1901.  I 
had  been  a  member  of  the  committee  for  some  time  before  I  be- 
came chairman  and  remained  a  member  after  the  retirement  from 
the  chairmanship.  Here,  too,  I  have  had  abundant  opportunities 
to  get  my  feelings  hurt.  For  my  troublesome  conscience  would 
not  permit  me  to  let  things  drift  along  when  I  saw  that  a  mis- 
sionary was  not  serving  his  field  effectively.  My  archives  contain 
letters  that  would  be  a  revelation  to  some  in  the  nature  of  epi- 
thets applied  to  me,  but  I  have  come  out  with  a  clear  conscience 
and  a  conviction  that  it  is  better  for  a  man  to  move  on  than  to 
divide  or  destroy  a  church.  Through  it  all  as  Home  Mission  Chair- 
man I  never  presented  a  policy  or  recommendation  that  was  not 
heartily  adopted  by  the  Presbytery.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Lit- 
tle, the  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  I  was  appointed  tentative 
Chairman  during  the  interregnum  between  the  reunion  Assembly 
and  the  formation  of  the  new  Presbytery,  and  performed  the  du- 
ties of  that  position  for  that  portion  of  the  Presbytery  that  be- 
came Ozark  Presbytery,  while  Dr.  Shepherd  held  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  confines  of  what  became  Carthage  Presbytery.  And 
at  the  organization  of  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark  I  was  elected 
Stated  Clerk  and  Chairman  of  Home  Missions.  My  Presbytery 
has  elected  me  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  twice— 
the  last  time  to  the  reunion  Assembly  of  1907. 

In  the  city  my  brethren  have  elected  me  thrice  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  the  Ministerial  Alliance,  thrice  to  the  Chairmanship  of 
the  Springfield  Lecture  Course  Committee  and  twice  to  the  Chair- 
manship of  the  Committee  on  Union  Evangelical  Campaigns.  One 
of  these  campaigns  was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian 
churches,  of  the  city;  the  other  was  more  general.  I  have  had 
predilections  for  research  in  history,  literature  and  theologv,  but 
have  sacrificed  these  to  a  large  extent  to  my  conceptions  of  gen- 


2^2  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

eral  usefulness.    Other  men  have  had  the  ability  to  be  Btudents 

and  yet  accomplish  as  much  along  general  lines  of  usefulness  as 
1  have,  but  I  have  not  had  strength  for  both.  Friends  have  often 
wondered  why  I  stay  here  so  long.  I  reply  in  general  to  maintain 
my  ideals,  fain  neither  brilliant  nor  meteoric.  If  I  accomplish 
anything  worthy  a  minister  of  the  gospel  it  must  be  along  the 
lines  of  persistent  and  toilsome  service  and  sacrifice  and  the  main- 
tenance of  a  name  above  reproach. 

I  have  seen  something  of  a  tendency  in  the  ministry  to  sur- 
render difficult  fields,  to  seek  easier  and  more  lucrative  or  more 
prominent  positions.  I  have  seen  some  of  the  evils  of  constant 
changes  in  the  pastorate  of  our  smaller  churches.  And  I  have 
tried  to  throw  the  weight  of  my  life  and  influence  against  these 
tendencies. 

NOICE.  D.  BRISTOL 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Corning  April  12,  1893. 
Supplied  the  churches  of  Conway  and  Buffalo.  Dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Central  Dakota  Sept.  19,  1894. 

C.  A.  BUPFA 

Of  Italian  birth  and  education,  Mr.  Buffa  was  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  12,  1893.  He  supplied  the  Wal- 
endsian  church  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Montreal 
Canada  Sept.  18,  1895. 

CLARENCE  E.  FOWLER 

Born  at  Wabash  Ind.  May  1,  1862.  Graduated  from  Wabast, 
College  1890;  McCormack  Seminary  1893;  licensed  and  ordained 
May  12,  1893;  received  by  the  Pres.  of  Ozark  July  18,  1893; 
S.  S.  of  Bolivar,  Mount  Zion  and  Willard  churches ;  supplied  the 
Second  Church  of  Springfield  during  the  summer  of  1894.  Dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Muncie  April  16th,  1895. 

WILLIAM  F.   VANDER   LIPPE. 

This  son  of  the  manse  was  born  in  St.  Louis  May  2d,  1869. 
He  received  his  degrees  at  Westminster  College  and  McCormick 
Seminary.  From  the  seminary  he  came  direct  to  the  Second 
Church  of  Springfield  and  was  ordained  and  installed  July  18th. 
1893.    Here  he  gave  great  promise  of  usefulness,  but  the  recent 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  243 

trials  through  which  the  church  had  passed  prior  to  his  coming 
discouraged  him  and  his  pastorate  was  all  too  brief. 

The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  May  29th,  1894,  and  Mr. 
Lippe  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  April  16. 
1895. 

GEORGE  HENRY  HEMINGWAY. 

Born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  February  4th,  1858.  Educated 
in  the  institutions  of  his  native  country  and  by  private  teachers. 
Mr.  Hemingway  began  his  ministry  in  the  Methodist  Church  and 
entered  the  Presbytery  of  Fargo  in  1889.  After  serving  various 
churches  in  Dakota  and  Iowa  he  was  received  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  October  18th,  1893,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First 
Church  of  Carthage  September  20th,  1894.  The  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Hemingway  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Northumberland  February  2d,  1897.  Hastings  College 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  1899.  Mr.  Hemingway 
is  remembered  in  the  Presbytery  as  a  man  of  no  mean  pulpit 
attainments,  and  was  specially  strong  in  condemnation  of  sin 
and  on  subjects  of  moral  reform. 

P.  P.  BRIOL. 

Received  October  18th,  1893 ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Solomon  September,  1894.  Mr.  Briol  has  since  lived  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery  and  has  done  supply  work  in  the  Waldensian 
and  other  churches,  but  for  the  most  part  has  been  engaged  in 
secular  work. 

DAVID  N.  ALLEN. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Sequoyah  April  10th,  1894 ; 
returned  to  the  same  September  23d,  1897.  Mr.  Allen  served  as 
stated  supply  of  the  Eureka  Springs  Church.  He  was  a  man  of 
native  gifts  and  wit,  an  interesting  expositor  of  the  word  and  a 
valuable  helper  in  evangelistic  services,  though  these  gifts  were 
not  exercised  much  in  this  Presbytery. 

BURTON  H.  GRAGG. 

Ordained  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  October  7th,  1888.  Mr. 
Gragg  entered  the  Presbytery  September  27th,  1894:  supplied 
the  Ash  Grove  Church  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 


244 


PRESBYTERIANISM    IN    'I'M  i     OZARKS 


Lamed  April  22d,  1896.  As  Financial  Agenl  for  Emporia  Col- 
lege and  as  pastor-at-largo  of  Topeka  Presbytery  his  must  ef- 
ficient services  have  been  rendered  in  the  Synod  of  Kansas. 

JOHN   T.   CURTIS. 

John  T.  Curtis  was  ordained  by   the    Presbytery   of  Ozark 

November  1st,  1894,  and  served  the  churches  of  Jasper.  Irwin 
and  Preston.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho 
September  22d,  1897,  and  returned  to  the  Presbytery  April  5th, 
1898.  After  a  little  more  than  two  years'  service  in  the  Eureka 
Springs  Church,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Platte 
July  28th,  1900.' 

JOHN  N.  McCLUNG. 

Rev.  John  N.  McClung  was  received  from  the  Presbytery 
of  St.  Louis  November  1st,  1899.  A  call  from  the  Monett  Church 
was  placed  in  his  hands  and  he  continued  as  pastor-elect  and 
pastor  of  that  church  until  September  17th,  1896.  A  few  weeks 
before  the  close  of  this  pastorate  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis 
just  before  he  had  finished  his  sermon  and  fell  back  in  his  pulpit 
chair.  On  the  7th  of  December  he  passed  to  his  reward.  Until 
he  was  about  forty  years  of  age  Dr.  McClung  practiced  dentistry. 
With  a  liberal  literary  education  and  a  wide  knowledge  of  men 
and  affairs,  he  took  a  private  course  in  theology.  He  became 
miirhiy  in  the  Scriptures  and  his  preaching  was  with  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  and  of  power.  His  Bible  readings  in  connec- 
tion with  evangelistic  services  were  remarkably  helpful  and  he 
was  permitted  to  lead  multitudes  to  the  Saviour.  Seldom  has  a 
pastorate  in  this  Presbytery  had  a  more  promising  outlook  than 
did  his  in  the  Monett  Church.  During  his  brief  service  there  the 
church  had  a  ret  increase  of  more  than  100  per  cent.,  and  for 
the  first  time  reached  the  stage  where  it  became  a  desirable  pas- 
torate. His  last  days  were  spent  in  Springfield,  and  it  was  my 
high  privilege  to  minister  to  him  in  spiritual  things  and  to  con- 
duct his  funeral  services.  In  his  death  as  iu  life  we  felt  con- 
strained to  say,  "He  was  a  good  man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
of  faith." 

JAMES  E.   SENTZ. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  subject  of  the  last  sketch  was  re- 
ceived the  Presbytery  received  James  E.  Sentz,  and  that  evening 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  245 

he  was  installed  pastor  of  Calvary  Church.  The  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Sentz  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Denver  September  21st,  1897.  Possessed  with  some  of  the  graces 
of  oratory,  a  striking  appearance,  a  well  modulated  voice,  grace- 
ful bearing  and  a  beautiful  flow  of  language,  probably  no  pastor 
of  Calvary  Church  has  made  better  audiences  than  Did  Mr.  Sentz. 
His  whole  strength  was  devoted  to  his  pulpit  ministrations,  which 
were  brilliant  rather  than  profound,  and  therefore  he  was  less 
identified  with  the  work  of  the  Presbytery  than  any  pastor  of 
that  church  since  the  beginning  of  Ozark  Presbytery. 

WARREN  MOONEY. 

Received  from  the  Congregational  Association  of  Kansas 
City  November  1st,  1894.  Served  the  churches  of  Buffalo  and 
Conwav;  dismissed  to  the  Presbvtery  of  Neosho  September  17th, 
1896. 

CHRISTOPHER  VINCENT. 

Mr.  Vincent  was  a  member  of  this  Presbytery  just  long 
enough  to  get  his  name  in  this  volume.  Received  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Cimmaron  December  27th,  1894;  served  the  South  Jop- 
lin  Church ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbvterv  of  Fargo  September 
17th,  1895. 

EDWARD  W.  CLIPPINGER. 

A  student  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery,  Mr.  Clippinger 
was  educated  at  Drury  College  and  MeCormick  Seminary.  He 
was  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  April  17th,  1895, 
and  was  immediately  dismissed  to.  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City. 

GEORGE  M.  BONNER  (COLORED). 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  White  River  April  17th, 
1895.     Engaged  in  secular  occupations  most  of  the  time. 

WILBUR  F.  GRUNDY. 

If  there  is  one  man  in  the  Presbytery  who  loves  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  that  man  is  Wilbur 
F.  Grundy.  Ordained  in  the  Methodist  Church  in  1885,  he  was 
received  from  the  Nebraska  Conference  April  18th.   1895.     For 


24O  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

a  shorl  time  he  served  under  the  Home  Hoard  on  a  mission  field 
in  Arkansas,  but  was  soon  transferred  to  the  work  under  the 
Sabbath  School  Board.  His  headquarters  were  at  Mammoth 
Springs,  Ark.,  until  the  work  of  the  S.  S.  missionaries  was  redis- 
tricted,  when  he  moved  to  Fayetteville,  A.rk.  He  is  thoroughly 
en  rapport  with  this  frontier  work,  for  which  he  is  admirably 
adapted.  His  visits  in  the  homes  of  the  people  are  greatly  appre- 
ciated, and  when  they  see  him  on  the  highways  they  are  thrilled 
with  the  thought  that  the  man  of  God  is  drawing  near  and  he  is 
entreated  to  stop.  Into  these  homes  he  brings  friendly  counsel, 
good  cheer  and  a  message  from  his  Master.  And  in  them  he 
leaves  the  printed  page  and  the  memory  of  an  earnest  petition 
offered  at  the  throne  of  Grace. 

Mr.  Grundy  is  one  of  the  most  faithful  Presbyters  I  have 
known  and  no  one  seems  to  enjoy  the  fellowship  of  the  brethren 
with  a  keener  relish  than  does  he.  His  one  regret  when  the  union 
was  consummated  was  that  it  would  throw  him  out  of  eccles- 
iastical fellowship  with  Ozark  Presbytery.  He  has  tried  faith- 
fully to  keep  abreast  of  the  Sabbath  school  movements,  and  since 
his  reception  by  the  Presbytery  has  studied  our  theology,  polity, 
history;  has  taken  the  Teachers'  Training  Course  and  Semelroth's 
Bible  Course. 

JAY  B.  FISHER. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  18th,  1895.  Mr. 
Fisher  had  been  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  religious  work  and 
was  past  threescore  years  of  age  when  ordained.  He  served  the 
Mount  Zion  Church  for  a  time,  but  was  soon  honorably  retired. 
The  date  of  his  death  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 

EDWARD  LEE  REXICK. 

I  will  venture  the  assertion  that  the  record  of  the  labors  of 
Edward  Lee  Renick  occupies  a  larger  place  in  the  book  on  High 
than  it  does  in  the  annals  of  the  Presbytery.  He  came  to  this 
Presbytery  direct  from  Princeton  Seminary  in  the  spring  of  1895, 
and  since  that  time  has  labored  in  our  bounds  as  a  Sabbath  school 
missionary.  The  Presbytery  ordained  him  September  18t,h,  1895. 
He  has  left  the  beaten  paths  and  pressed  out  into  the  most  neQJy 
sections  of  the  Presbytery.  Six  feet  in  height  and  235  pounds 
in  weight,  he  has  a  heart  as  big  as  his  body.  The  children  greet 
him  with  a  warmth  of  affection  ordinarily  reserved  for  the  fabled 
Santa  Claus,  and  hardened  old  sinners  say  there  goes  one  minis- 
ter who  is  a  man.     Traveling  over  a  dozen  counties  in  the  Osarks 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  247 

in  the  course  of  years  hundreds  of  men  ride  in  his  buggy,  and  he 
makes  it  a  rule  never  to  let  a  man  sit  beside  him  there  without 
finding  out  something  of  his  spiritual  condition.  It  has  been  my 
privilege  to  go  with  Mr.  Renick  through  the  mountainous  regions 
of  the  Presbytery  three  times — twice  on  camping  trips — and  I 
confidently  affirm  that  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  no  man 
in  the  Presbytery  has  endured  the  hardships  and  privations  that 
his  work  has  necessitated.  He  is  specially  gifted  as  a  personal 
worker  and  has  been  used  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in  bringing  many 
souls*  into  the  kingdom. 

.    JAMES  C.  SEPTOX. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Cimmaron  October  18 ch, 
1895 ;  served  the  Presbytery  as  pastor-at-large,  and  later  as  the 
supply  of  various  churches ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Alton 
February  12th.  1900. 

CHARLES  MEMMOTT. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  April  21st.  1896: 
supplied  the  churches  of  Ash  Grove  and  Bolivar;  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids  April  5th,  1899. 

J.  G-.  KNOTTER. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  23d,  1890 ;  served 
the  Waldensian  Church ;  dismissed  to  the  Brookfield  Conference 
(Cong.)  April  4th,  1900. 

JACOB  B.  WELTY. 

Of  the  men  who  laid  hands  on  my  head  in  ordination  no  one 
made  a  more  lasting  impression  on  my  life  than  Jacob  B.  Welty. 
At  that  time  he  was  pastor  of  our  church  at  Mo'oerly.  He  was 
ordained  by  the  Classis  of  Westmoreland  ( Reformed  Church)  in 
1872,  but  for  some  years  prior  to  1890  had  been  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  "He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
preached  in  several  States  and  was  known  as  a  minister  whose 
work  was  always  marked  with  growth.  He  figured  in  several 
important  movements  for  righteousness,  one  being  the  national 
lecturer  of  the  White  Cross  movement." 

On  the  15th  of  May,  1896,  Mr.  Welty  began  his  pastorate 
with  the  First  Church  of  Joplin — a   pastorate  that  was  terrai- 


248  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

dated  September  17,  1892.  Mr.  Welty  reaconed  this  the  most 
successful  pastorate  of  his  life,  though  he  said  he  had  never 
served  a  church  that  he  did  not  double  its  membership  during 
his  May.  The  first  year  of  his  ministry  in  Jopjin  the  house  was 
filled  i'i  its  capacity  and  chairs  were  placed  in  every  available 
space.  In  the  autumn  of  183:'  a  lot  was  purchased  for  a  new 
church.  Mr.  and  Mrs  J.  H  Taylor  gave  the  church  the  adjoin- 
ing lot.  "Upon  this  property  a  parsonage,  modern  in  its  ap- 
pointments, *  *  *  was  erected  in  the  winter  of  '97-'9S." 
"A  sale  of  the  property  at  Seventh  and  Main  streets  was  effected 
in  the  year  1899.  Preparations  were  immediately  get  on  foot  for 
the  building  of  a  new  house  of  worship.  It  was  decided  to  make 
it  large,  modern  and  ample  for  institutional  work.  •     *     The 

structure  was  built  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1  !>()(>  at  a 
cost  of  $28,500."  In  this  church  was  placed  an  $1,800  pipe  organ. 
With  this  new  and  commodious  building  Mr.  Welty  began  insti- 
tutional work.  During  his  s;x  years'  pastorate  the  church  raised 
for  benevolences  $3,866,  and  for  current  expenses  and  improve- 
ments $31,905.  He  received  190  members  by  letter  and  153  on 
profession  of  faith.  In  1899  the  church  secured  an  assistant  pas- 
tor and  a  mission  work  was  developed  which  culminated  in  the 
organization  of  the  Bethany  Church.  In  June,  1902,  Westmins- 
ter College  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  D.  on  Mr.  Welty.  To  those 
of  us  who  knew  him  and  loved  him  best  a  minor  note  appeared 
in  this  melody  of  progress.  For  a  time  amidst  the  perplexities 
of  a  trying  pastorate  and  the  unusual  calls  for  attention  to  ma- 
terial progress  it  seemed  that  he  was  drifting  from  evangelical 
moorings,  and  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  this  had  some- 
tlvng  to  do  with  the  termination  of  a  remarkable  pastorate.  It 
was  with  great  pleasure  that  I  afterwards  learned  from  a  reliable 
and  deeply  sympathetic  source  that  he  turned  again  to  the  "old 
paths,"  from  which  it  is  true  he  had  not  wandered  far.  Dr. 
Welty  died  in  Kansas  City,  Mo..  August  3d.  1907,  aged-sixty-one 
years.  The  preceding  April  he  had  fractured  his  limb,  which 
was  slow  in  knitting  and  death  was  the  result.  One  who  knew 
him  intimately  for  twenty  years  said:  "As  a  Christian  we  con- 
fided in  him;  as  a  preacher  we  were  helped  by  him;  as  a  teacher 
we  learned  of  him;  as  a  pastor  we  loved  him."  "His  sufferings 
were  great,  but  patient,  and  when  one  of  the  nurses  reminded 
him  it  was  Sabbath  morning,  his  reply  was,  'I  can't  go  to  church, 
but  I  can  suffer  for  Christ's  sake.'  " 

J.  A.  GEHRETT. 

Received  from   the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  September  16th. 


H.    O.    SCOTT 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  249 

1896 ;  pastor  Mount  Vernon  and  Ozark  Prairie  churches ;  clerk 
empowered  to  dismiss  him  September  23d,  1897. 

WILLIAM  L.  SCHMALHORST. 

As  a  candidate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  Mr.  Schmal- 
horst  graduated  in  Drury  College  in  1893  and  in  Princeton  Semi- 
nary 1896.  A  part  of  his  theological  course  was  taken  at  McCor- 
mick.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  September  17th,  1896, 
and  was  immediately  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Chili,  where 
he  entered  the  service  as  a  foreign  missionary.  As  a  student 
Mr.  Schmalhorst  had  supplied  the  churches  of  Conway  and  Buf- 
falo during  the  summer  of  1894. 

FREDERIC  G.   KNAUER. 

The  Presbytery  laid  its  hands  in  ordination  upon  Mr.  Knauer 
at  the  same  time  that  it  ordained  Mr.  Schmalhorst.  Both  of  these 
young  men  passed  excellent  examinations.  Mr.  Knauer  served 
the  Westminster  Church  of  Carthage  for  a  short  time,  then  went 
as  a  missionary  to  Africa.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Corisco  September  22d,  1897. 

CHARLES  P.   SPINNING. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  North  Texas  April  20th. 
1897 ;  honorably  retired ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Iowa 
April  6th,  1898. 

HARRY  OMAR  SCOTT. 

Dr.  Scott  was  born  at  Latrobe,  Pa.,  August  5th,  1854.  He 
graduated  at  Lafayette  College  in  1877  and  at  Union  Theological 
Seminary  in  1880.  The  Presbytery  of  Redstone  licensed  him  in 
the  autumn  of  '79,  and  on  October  15th,  1880,  he  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Nebraska  City.  His  pastorates  prior  to 
entering  this  Presbytery  were  Brownville,  Neb.,  July  1,  1880,  to 
August  15th,  1883 ;  Hiawatha,  Kan.,  August  16th,  1883,  to  April 
15th,  1891 ;  Hastings,  Neb.,  April  16th,  1891,  to  January  31st,  1879. 
During  his  second  pastorate  he  was  elected  Moderator  of  the 
Synod  of  Nebraska  and  President  of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  State 
Union.  With  characteristic  vigor  he  traveled  all  over  the  State 
and  became  a  dominant  factor  in  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  of  Nebraska. 
One  of  the  intensely  interesting  questions  before  the  Assembly  of 


250  Presbvterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

1896  was  the  question  of  ecclesiastical  relation  to  the  Young, Peo- 
ples movement.  Dr.  Scott  was  a  Commissioner  to  that  Assembly, 
and  his  Nebraska  training  had  fitted  him  for  a  position  where  he 
could  at  least  "see  the  wheels  go  around."  He  stood  steadfastly 
with  those  who  contended  for  the  minimum  of  ecclesiastical  con- 
trol. In  1894  the  college  of  his  home  town  honored  him  with  the 
title  of  D.  D.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April 
20th,  1897,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  first  church  of  Car- 
thage in  June  of  that  year.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
June  15th,  1905,  and  Dr.  Scott  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Oklahoma,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  church  of  Guthrie. 
This  eight  years'  pastorate  was  marked  by  a  constant  and  healthy 
growth.  Dr.  Scott  was  the  father  and  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Aggressive  Work  in  the  Presbytery,  and  he  infused  some 
of  the  aggressiveness  applied  on  his  own  field  into  the  general 
work  of  the  Presbytery.  In  addition  to  this  he  was  Presbyterial 
Chairman  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  generally  found  a  place  oh 
judicial  committees  and  commissions.  I  was  with  him  on  two 
important  commissions  of  this  character  and  found  that  his 
knowledge  of  Presbyterian  law  and  usage  is  wide  and  accurate. 
In  all  my  Presbyterial  relations  I  have  never  formed  so  warm 
an  attachment  for  any  man  with  whom  I  so  frequently  disagreed 
as  with  Dr.  Scott.  We  frequently  lined  up  on  opposite  sides,  but 
mutually  recognized  the  sincerity  of  each  other  and  contended 
as  friends.  On  the  question  of  more  rigid  adherence  to  the  stand- 
ards in  the  requirement  of  ministerial  education  ~  we  usually 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder.  Such,  too,  were  our  experiences  in 
judicial  cases.  When  Dr.  Scott  addressed  the  students  of  Drury 
College  at  a  time  when  Presbytery  was  meeting  in  Springfield 
he  began  by  asking,  "If  the  animals  should  all  go  to  school,  which 
one  would  you  put  in  the  geography  class  ? "  To  this  question  he 
replied,  "The  sheep."  Then  he  told  how  hard  it  is  to  lose  a 
worthless  dog,  and  said  that  if  you  tied  a  number  of  cats  in  a 
sack  and  let  them  loose  miles  from  home  some  of  them  would 
beat  you  back.  "But,"  said  he.  "if  you  take  a  sheep  around  a 
corner  it  is  likely  to  get  lost."  This  illustration  was  used  as  an 
introduction  to  a  practical  talk  on  the  theme,  "Perfect  that  which 
is  lacking."  It  is  given  here  as  a  characteristic  of  Dr.  Scott's 
preaching,  which  was  neither  expository  nor  theological  in  the 
ordinary  acceptation  of  the  term.  By  reason  of  this  fact  Dr. 
Scott  scarcely  receives  the  credit  for  theological  knowledge  to 
which  he  is  entitled.  During  the  first  part  of  his  Carthage  pas- 
torate the  Westminster  Church  had  two  men  of  no  mean  pulpit 
attainments,  and  the  rivalry  of  the  churches,  circumscribed  as 
they  were,  was  inevitably  intense.  Dr.  Scott  threw  his  whole  vigor 


A.    T.    ALLER 


W.    C.    TEMPLETON 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  251 

into  his  pastoral  work,  maintained  an  equinamity  truly  com- 
mendable for  one  of  his  temperament  and  so  comported  himself 
that  he  was  subsequently  enabled  to  bring  the  two  churches  into 
an  harmonious  union  and  remain  pastor  of  the  United  Church. 
This  happy  consummation  was  more  difficult  and  delicate  than 
one  on  the  outside  might  suppose. 

In  the  spring  of  1903  I  learned  by  "grape  vine"  communi- 
cation that  efforts  were  being  made  to  convey  the  Westminster 
Church  to  the  Congregationalists.  I  immediately  informed  Dr. 
Scott  and  he  replied,  thanking  me  for  suggestions  and  stating 
that  the  time  had  come,  he  believed,  for  the  First  Church  to  make 
overtures  to  the  Westminster  Church.  The  result  has  been  indi- 
cated. The  union  gave  the  church  two  houses  of  worship — the 
one  old  and  antiquated,  the  other  newer  and  more  modern,  but 
scarcely  large  enough  for  the  united  body.  Dr.  Scott  felt  con- 
strained by  the  equipment.  But  Carthage  has  not  yet  seen  fit 
to  erect  a  house  of  worship  commensurate  with  their  needs.  At 
the  time  of  the  union  the  first  church  reported  a  membership  of 
415  and  the  Westminster  Church  133.  Allowing  even  for  this 
union  the  growth  of  the  church  in  this  pastoral  was  of  no  mean 
pretensions,  i.  e.,  during  the  eight  years  from  295  to  538. 

Dr.  Scott  is  an  exemplary  Presbyter,  making  it  a  rule  to  be 
at  the  first  session  of  Synod  or  Presbytery  and  to  remain  to  the 
final  call  of  the  roll.  The  Synod  of  Missouri  elected  him  Mod- 
erator in  1902. 

WILLIAM  C.  TEMPLETON. 

On  the  day  that  Dr.  Scott  entered  the  ranks  of  the  Presby- 
tery the  name  of  William  C.  Templeton  was  enrolled.  He  came 
from  Neosho  Presbytery,  which  had  licensed  him  October  8th, 
1890,  and  ordained  him  April  15th,  1891.  He  was  born  in  Pinck- 
neyville,  111.,  August  15th,  1863 ;  received  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
from  Park  College  in  1888,  and  A.  M.  in  1890.  For  two  years  he 
studied  theology  in  Princeton  Seminary.  Later  he  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  McKendree  College.  Be- 
fore entering  this  Presbytery  he  was  stated  supply  of  the  church 
at  Quenemo,  Kan.,  '91- '94,  and  pastor  of  Chanute  '94- '97.  He  was 
pastor-elect  and  pastor  of  the  Monett  Church  for  nearly  five 
years.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved,  and  he  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  January  16th,  1902.  There  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Kirksville  Church,  with  which  the  Cumber- 
land Church  of  that  place  has  united,  and  Dr.  Templeton  has 
continued  pastor,  greatly  useful  and  beloved.  To  Ozark  Presby- 
tery belongs  the  credit  of  training  him  in  the  Chairmanship  of 


252  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Home  Missions — a  training  that  has  beeE  a  boon  to  that  section 
of  the  State,  both  before  and  since  the  union.  In  this  Presby- 
tery I  found  myself  lined  up  with  Dr.  TempletOE  on  nearly  every 
important  issue.  In  theology  and  in  administrative  affairs  we 
usually  agreed,  though  he  is  the  more  rigidly  theological  of  the 
two.  One  time  Dr.  Scott  was  preaching  before  Presbytery.  He 
was  making  a  characteristic  plea  for  the  allowance  of  considera- 
ble latitude  to  young  people,  and  compared  the  young  to  colts 
that  gambol  across  the  green  and  spend  their  growing  period  in 
play.  By  and  by  their  necks  will  become  inured  to  the  collar 
and  they  will  pull  with  the  steadiness  of  draft  horses.  I  whis- 
pered to  Templeton:  "Nevertheless  I  believe  in  haltering  the 
colts  occasionally."  To  this  he  nodded  his  hearty  approval  and 
added:  "Yes,  yes;  and  throwing  them  down,  too,  if  necessary." 
During  his  Monett  pastorate  Dr.  Templeton  took  the  church  off 
of  the  Home  Board  and  procured  a  commodious  parsonage.  His 
work  among  the  railroad  men  was  signally  successful,  and  to  him 
and  the  men  in  his  church  is  due  the  credit  for  securing  the  rail- 
road Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  that  place.  He  was  an  efficient  helper  in 
evangelistic  services  in  a  number  of  the  churches  of  the  Presby- 
tery. The  Synod  of  Missouri  elected  him  to  the  Moderatorship 
in  1908. 

JOHN  WESLEY  CRAWFORD. 

Dr.  Crawford  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Platte 
April  21st,  1897.  At  that  time  he  was  honorably  retired,  and  died 
May  13th.  1897. 

WILLIAM  G-.  MOORE. 

Born  at  Ava,  Mo.,  July  25th,  1868 ;  studied  at  Morrisville  Col- 
lege and  at  Pleasant  Hope  Academy.  The  Springfield  Presby- 
tery of  the  C.  P.  Church  licensed  him  March  3d.  1892.  and  or- 
dained him  March  2d,  1895.  In  1896  Mr.  Moore  placed  himself 
under  care  of  this  Presbytery.  He  was  assigned  a  course  of  study 
and  took  charge  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church.  On  the  21st  of 
April.  1897,  the  Presbytery  enrolled  his  name  and  placed  in  his 
hands  a  call  from  the  Conway  Church.  He  was  installed  Decem- 
ber 13th,  1897,  and  served  the  Buffalo  Church  in  connection  with 
Conway.  December  4th,  1899,  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
in  order  that  Mr.  Moore  might  accept  a  call  to  the  Ebenezer 
Church.  This  pastorate  was  consummated  January  13th,  1900, 
rind  terminated  December  18th,  1902,  at  which  time  Mr.  Moore 
went  to  a  pastorate  in  Iowa.    His  work  in  the  Presbytery  was  a 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  253 

fitting  preparation  for  the  larger  work  he  has  been  permitted  to 
do  in  the  State  of  his  adoption. 

ASA  LEARD. 

Rev.  Asa  Leard,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Berksville,  Ohio,  May 
13th,  1851.  Lafayette  College  and  McCormick  Seminary  gave 
him  his  training  in  literature  and  theology.  From  Lafayette  he 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  1892.  Ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Rock  River  in  December,  1879,  he  served  as  follows :  Braid- 
wood,  111.,  1879-81;  Parmingdale,  '82- '89;  Synodical  Evangelist 
of  Illinois,  '89;  Knox  Church,  Omaha,  Neb.,  '89- '97.  He  was  re- 
ceived by  this  Presbytery  September  22d,  1897,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  Calvary  Church  September  23d,  1897.  This  pastorate 
was  terminated  by  his  death,  which  occurred  November  19th, 
1900. 

Dr.  Leard  entered  upon  this  pastorate  at  a  time  when  it 
would  have  taken  an  immense  stretch  of  the  imagination  to  char- 
acterize the  conditions  in  that  church  as  like  unto  "the  precious 
ointment  that  ran  down  Aaron's  beard."  But  he  lived  to  see  dis- 
cordant elements  vanish  like  mist  before  the  morning  sun,  and 
under  his  leadership  the  church  made  provision  for  the  liquida- 
tion of  a  debt  that  had  assumed  considerable  proportions.  He 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Presbyterial  Committee  on  Home 
Missions,  and  immediately  the  neglected  and  unchurched  masses 
in  the  hills  of  Southwest  Missouri  and  Northern  Arkansas  be- 
came special  objects  of  his  solicitude.  I  spent  two  summer  vaca- 
tions camping  with  him  in  the  Ozarks  and  know  whereof  I  speak 
in  asserting  that  he  had  a  statesmanlike  grasp  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion problems  of  this  Presbytery.  Nor  were  his  labors  confined 
to  his  church  and  Presbytery.  The  trustees  of  Drury  College, 
the  Charity  Board  of  the  city  and  the  Ministerial  Alliance  paid 
touching  tribute  to  his  memory,  and  passed  resolutions  that  were 
by  no  means  stereotyped.  It  was  largely  through  his  efforts  that 
Mayor  Cole  was  brought  to  this  city  for  that  remarkable  evan- 
gelistic campaign  of  1900.  ,In  the  resolutions  offered  by  the 
Charity  Board  was  incorporated  this  letter  written  by  Dr.  Leard 
some  time  before  his  death : 

"My  Dear  Brother: — Has  the  relief  officer  sufficient  supplies 
to  meet  the  urgent  needs  of  the  poor  this  bitter  cold  day  and 
night?  Has  he  sufficient  wood  to  keep  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tressed from  freezing?  If  not,  kindly  go  to  the  nearest  supply, 
and  if  we  have  not  funds  to  meet  the  demand  I  will  be  person- 
ally responsible.  As  I  lay  upon  my  bed  last  night  and  heard  the 
wail  of  the  bitter  cold  wind  I  thought  of  the  fireless  stoves  and 
the  empty  cupboards.     0.  God  bless  the  poor." 


254  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Dr.  Leard  said  to  me  one  time:  "My  brother  Tom  cannot 
understand  why  I  am  about  as  hard  pressed  as  be  is.  lie  gets  a 
thousand  dollars  and  I  get  $1,800.  When  I  got  a  thousand  I  was 
about  as  well  off  as  I  am  now,  for  a  congregation  knows  how 
much  <i  pastor  gets  and  usually  see  that  he  spends  accordingly." 
It  may  be  the  above  letter  throws  some  light  on  the  subject.  A 
church  that  is  able  to  do  so  ought  to  make  it  possible  for  a  min- 
ister to  use  considerable  money  in  benevolent  works.  Because 
some  of  it  at  least  is  good  reading  and  because  it  is  a  fair  esti- 
mate of  the  worth  of  this  brother  beloved  I  will  close  this  sketch 
with  an  article  taken  from  the  Springfield  Republican  of  No- 
vember 25th,  1900: 


REV.  ASA  LEARD. 


EULOGIES     DELIVERED     OVER     THE     DEAD     CALVARY 

CHURCH  PASTOR— DELICATE  TRIBUTE  BY  REV.  H. 

0.  SCOTT— REMARKS  OF  REV.  STRINGFIELD. 

The  funeral  service  was  held  in  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church 
on  Thursday,  November  22,  at  11  o'clock.  His  body  lay  in  state 
in  the  church  in  which  he  closed  his  life's  work  for  Christ  during 
the  two  hours  preceding  the  funeral  service.  A  most  touching 
scene  was  that  of  about  forty  children  from  the  Mission  Sabbath 
school,  which  was  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Leard,  waiting  at 
the  church  doors  to  take  farewell  of  one  who  had  been  their  true 
friend  and  benefactor.  A  great  concourse  of  people  viewed  his 
remains  with  manifest  feelings  of  appreciation  and  love  for  one 
whom  they  should  see  no  more  in  the  flesh.  The  church  was 
tastefully  and  becomingly  decorated  with  flowers,  and  his  pulpit 
and  chair  veiled  with  emblems  of  mourning,  and  on  his  casket 
above  his  breast  lay  his  Bible  containing  the  words  of  Him  whom 
he  loved,  whom  he  taught  the  people  and  whose  spirit  was  mani- 
fest in  his  life.  When  the  hour  for  service  arrived  the  large 
auditorium  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Rev.  E.  E.  String- 
field,  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  was  in  charge  of  the 
services.  "Sweet  Hour  of  Prayer,"  a  favorite  hymn  with  Dr. 
Leard,  was  sung.  Rev.  J.  T.  Bacon,  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  read  a  Scripture  lesson  touching  the  "reward" — 
heaven.  Dr.  J.  W.  Long,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  led 
in  the  opening  prayer.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  O.  Scott,  of  Carthage  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  a  fellow  student  in  college  and  a  very  inti- 
mate friend  of  Dr.  Leard,  delivered  an  address.    He  said  in  sub- 


ASA   LEARD 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  255 

stance:  "I  scarcely  know  where  my  proper  place  is  today.  If  I 
would  consult  my  own  feelings  I  would  take  my  seat  beside  his 
brother,  with  the  mourners.  It  has  been  my  privilege  to  know 
Dr.  Leard  more  intimately,  perhaps,-  than  any  one  here,  except 
his  own  family.  Twenty-six  years  ago  I  met  Dr.  Leard  for  the 
first  time  on  the  college  campus.  While  in  college  he  was  the 
friend  of  all,  kind  and  generous,  skillful  in  debate.  He  became 
quite  an  orator,  which  I  was  not.  At  one  time  he  so  distin- 
guished himself  that  he  was  called  Marshal  Ney.  Indeed  there 
were  many  who  knew  him  by  no  other  name  than  Marshal  Ney. 
When  in  college  it  seemed  that  the  law  would  be  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. When  I  left  him  at  the  close  of  his  college  course  it  was 
with  the  feeling  that  he  would  one  day  be  a  distinguished  mem- 
ber of  the  bar.  A  few  years  afterwards  we  were  both  pastors  in 
the  same  Synod.  In  all  these  years  I  have  found  him  the  same 
broad-minded,  generous,  loving-hearted  man  I  knew  in  college. 
While  in  Nebraska  Dr.  Leard  was  the  champion  of  one  institution 
of  learning,  while  I  was  the  college  pastor  of  a  rival  institution, 
but  through  all  the  discussion  in  Synod,  which  at  times  was 
heated,  no  unfriendly  word  was  spoken  between  us.  We  often 
sat  and  talked  over  the  differences  as  calmly  as  though  both  of  us 
favored  the  same  institution.  Dr.  Leard  was  one  of  the  most  ap- 
proachable of  men,  with  a  happy  faculty  of  making  others  feel 
at  ease  in  his  presence.  At  one  time  when  on  a  visit  through 
Arkansas  in  the  interest  of  the  Home  Mission  work  the  mission- 
ary with  whom  we  traveled  felt  some  embarrassment  in  that  we 
were  both  pastors  of  large  city  churches,  but  a  few  words  from 
the  doctor  made  him  feel  entirely  at  ease  and  gave  him  real  en- 
joyment in  his  company.  His  heart  took  in  all  humanity.  This 
characteristic  appeared  early  in  life.  While  in  college  a  dispute 
once  arose  with  reference  to  receiving  a  young  Japanese  into  one 
of  the  fraternities.  Dr.  Leard,  in  the  face  of  all  opposition,  plead 
for  him  on  the  ground  of  the  brotherhood  of  man ;  that  we  all 
had  the  same  Saviour.  He  was  the  very  soul  of  honor.  Loyal  to 
friends,  devoted  to  the  Master  and  faithful  in  teaching  the  word. 
These  floral  tributes  are  beautiful  and  expressive,  but  that  Bible 
placed  upon  his  casket  just  above  his  breast  expresses  that  which 
was  dear  to  him.  I  know  not  who  placed  it  there,  but  whoever 
did  knew  Dr.  Leard.  If  I  could  have  my  way  I  would  have  him 
buried  as  a  field  marshal,  with  the  sword,  the  sword  of  the  spirit, 
upon  his  breast." 

Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield  spoke  as  follows : 

"My  feelings  on  this  occasion  may  find  a  fitting  expression 
in  the  language  of  England's  bard: 


256  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Strong  son  of  God  immortal  love, 
Whom  we  that  have  not  seen  thy  face, 
By  faith  and  faith,  alone  embrace, 
Believing  where  we  cannot  prove. 

Thine  are  these  orbs  of  light  and  shade. 
Thou  madest  life  in  man  and  brute, 
Thou  madest  death,  and  lo !  thy  foot 
Is  on  the  skull  which  thou  hast  made. 

Thou  wilt  not  leave  us  in  the  dust. 
Thou  madest  man  he  knows  not  why — 
He  thinks  he  was  not  made  to  die, 
And  thou  hast  made  him — thou  art  just. 

Thou  seemest  human  and  divine. 
The  highest,  holiest  manhood  Thou. 
Our  wills  are  ours,  we  know  not  how. 
Our  wills  are  ours  to  make  them  Thine. 

"There  are  mysteries  of  Providence  we  do  not  pretend  to 
fathom.  Whether  in  His  humanity  our  Saviour  felt  these  limi- 
tations or  whether  He  realized  there  were  some  things  we  should 
not  or  could  not  know  now,  at  least  He  has  set  us  a  beautiful  ex- 
ample of  leaving  the  unknown  till  the  time  when  God  shall  see 
fit  to  make  it  plain.  'Even  so  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in 
Thy  sight.'  The  mysteries  of  this  hour  are  these:  Why  was 
this  life  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  usefulness?  And  how  can  we 
spare  him? 

"A  book,  a  story,  must  be  complete.  A  life  may  terminate 
abruptly  with  the  leaves  of  its  labors  drawn  and  the  superstruc- 
ture only  partially  raised.  In  many  ways  this  life  seems  incom- 
plete. Physically  he  seemed  to  be  endowed  with  the  promise  of 
many  more  days.  And  if  it  be  true,  as  we  have  reason  to  believe, 
that  this  strong  constitution  gave  way  under  excessive  strain- 
especially  the  labors  of  the  union  meeting  last  winter— we  may 
say  his  was  a  vicarious  death.  Do  you  say  he  should  have  re- 
served his  strength;  he  should  not  have  toiled  so  incessantly?  I 
am  not  so  sure  of  this.  It  cost  heaven  the  blood  of  the  Son  of 
God  to  save  sinners.  And  a  life  worn  out  in  this  glorious  mission 
may  fittingly  close  in  a  vicarious  death. 

' '  The  estimation  in  which  the  alliance  held  Dr.  Leard  is  ap- 
propriately symbolized  in  the  broken  wheel  we  lay  upon  his  cas- 
ket. There  his  genial  presence  and  consecrated  humor  lightened 
our  burdens  and  made  our  meetings  hours  of  sunshine.    There  h* 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  257 

was  fruitful  in  resources  and  wise  in  counsel.  In  charities  and 
public  enterprises  he  was  a  broad-minded  man.  His  bountiful 
hand  received  the  woes  of  the  needy  and  his  tender  heart  melted 
in  mercies.  In  his  church  he  came  not  like  a  meteor  to  dazzle  you 
with  his  brilliance,  not  like  an  earthquake  to  shake  you,  but  he 
quietly  grew  into  your  affections.  Of  old,  God  Avas  not  in  the 
thunder  peal,  nor  the  earthquake  shock,  but  in  the  still  small 
voice.  So  our  brother  unobtrusively  won  his  way  to  our  hearts, 
unified  the  church,  called  forth  your  energies  and  set  the  church 
to  work  in  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom.  He  had  large  plans  for  the 
church.  That  study  in  the  house  is  a  sacred  place  to  me.  There 
with  my  dead  brother,  Leard,  it  has  been  my  great  privilege  to 
talk  of  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom.  He  always  had  some 
new  plan — his  thoughts  were  ever  about  'the  King's  business,' 
and  he  realized  that  business  'requires  haste.'  And  his  wide  in- 
terests embraced  the  Presbytery  and  the  cause  of  our  denomina- 
tion in  this  part  of  the  State.  Here,  too,  he  had  generous  plans 
that  are  unexecuted.  How  these  plans  in  the  church  and  the  Pres- 
bytery are  to  be  realized  we  cannot  see.  We  can  only  trust  that 
God  will  direct  the  work  our  brother  was  called  to  lay  down.  I 
cannot  trust  myself  to  speak  of  what  Dr.  Leard  was  to  me.  The 
sentiments  of  friendship  are  sacred  to  those  who  feel  the  ties.  To 
them  heart  speaks  to  heart  and  language  beggars  a  fitting  expres- 
sion. Two  summer  vacations  spent  together  and  many  quiet 
hours  in  converse  sweet  taught  us  to  know  and  love  each  other. 

"Xor  shall  I  invade  the  sacred  precincts  of  the  home  life  and 
tell  you  what  he  was  in  the  family.  The  curious  world  has  no 
right  to  enter  this  lover's  bower,  which  refined  hearts  regard  as 
sacredly  secluded.  And  this  widow  and  these  fatherless  children 
need  no  reminder  save  the  vacant  place  and  the  cherished  mem- 
ory. 

"To  sum  up:  He  was  true,  he  was  resourceful,  he  was 
thoughtful  about  the  King's  business. 

"We  all  love  him  better  now  than  we  did  the  first  year  he 
was  in  our  midst.  Not  because  he  is  dead,  but  because  we  have 
known  him  longer  and  better.  And  we  feel  as  did  Elisha  when 
Elijah  was  translated.  'My  father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of 
Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof.'  This  is  not  hero  worship.  Our 
Saviour  reveals  himself  to  us  through  his  servants  that  are  of 
receptive  spirit.  His  purposes  are  personified  in  his  children. 
And  when  one  is  so  intimately  identified  with  the  cause  of  Christ, 
as  was  Dr.  Leard,  we  hardly  know  how  he  can  be  spared  when  his 
work  is  incomplete.  We  can  only  say.  'Even  so  Father,  for  so  it 
seemed  good  in  Thy  sight.'  " 

At  the  close  of  the  addresses  Rev.  E.  F.  Abbott,  of  the  West- 


258  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

minster  Presbyterian  Church,  led  in  the  closing  prayer.  Rev.  Dr. 
W.  C.  Templeton,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  .Monett,  an- 
nounced the  hymn  "Asleep  in  Jesus,"  after  the  singing  of  which 
the  casket  was  born  out  and  the  congregation  was  dismissed  by 
Dr.  Templeton.     The  interment  was  in  Maple  Park  Cemetery. 


GEORGE  H.  CLYMER. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Mattoon  September  21st, 
1897 ;  served  the  Fordland  Church ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Bloomington. 

SIDNEY  STONE. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Larned  January  4th,  1898; 
installed  pastor  of  Bolivar  Church  January  20th ;  pastorate  dis- 
solved and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Fargo  October  26th  of 
the  same  year. 

william  r.  Mcelroy. 

William  R.  McElroy,  a  member  of  the  first  church  of  Car- 
thage, placed  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  ministry  April  14th.  1880.  He  graduated  at  Drury 
College  in  1886  and  at  McCormick  Seminary  in  1889.  He  was 
licensed  by  this  Presbytery  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Platte,  which  placed  the  hands  of  ordination  on  him  the  same 
year.  From  1889  to  1893  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  of  Chifti- 
cothe.  Mo.,  where  he  led  the  people  in  the  erection  of  a  beautiful 
and  commodious  house  of  worship.  His  second  field  was  Cassop- 
olis,  Mich.,  93- '98.  He  returned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April 
6th,  1898,  and  served  the  West  Plains  Church  as  stated  supply 
and  pastor  until  May  23d,  1901,  at  which  time  he  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Solomon. 

ALFRED  M.  MAXN. 

The  Ministerial  Directory  (1898)  gives  a  brief  sketch  of  this 
dear  brother,  and  closes  with  this  significant  clause:  "H.  M.  22 
yrs."  Mr.  Mann  prided  himself  on  being  a  plain  home  mission- 
ary, with  no  desire  to  be  anything  else — and  such  he  was,  too.  of 
an  excellent  type.  But  Dr.  Scott  is  authority  for  the  story  that 
a  certain  female  in  his  Jasper  County  circuit  took  exception  to 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  259 

the  watch  chain  and  fob  worn  by  the  home  missionary  and  de- 
clared, "Mr.  Mann  is  too  stylish  for  common  people."  The 
home  missionary's  pride  was  shaken  somewhat  by  this  criticism, 
but  those  who  knew  him  will  feel  confident  that  the  said  female 
was  related  to  the  woman  spoken  of  by  Josiah  Allen's  wife,  who, 
when  presented  a  black  and  white  checked  shawl,  declared  she 
would  have  liked  it  better  if  the  black  checks  had  been  where 
the  white  ones  were  and  the  white  ones  where  the  black  ones 
were.  A  considerable  amount  of  the  criticism  of  ministers  that 
has  driven  them  from  some  of  the  churches  in  this  region  is  just 
about  this  weighty ! 

Mr.  Mann  studied  privately,  then  took  a  partial  course  in 
McCormick  Seminary.  He  was  licensed  in  April,  1875,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Alton ;  ordained  December  of  the  same  year  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Emporia.  He  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Neosho  May  6th,  1898,  and  served  the  churches  of  Salem, 
Preston  and  Irwin ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbvtery  of  Chicago  March 
18th,  1901. 

GEORGE  M.  CALDWELL. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Topeka  May  6th,  1898; 
served  the  Grace  and  Madison  churches  a  short  time ;  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Missouri  (U.  S.)  April  3d,  1900. 

R.  E.  L.  JARVIS. 

Received  from  the  M.  E,  Church.  South,  September  21st, 
1898 ;  stated  supply  and  pastor  of  Mount  Vernon  and  Ozark  Prai- 
rie churches;  dismissed  to  the  Presbvterv  of  Chicago  March  18th. 
1901. 

CLARENCE  A.  STEWART. 

Received  from  Nebraska  City  Presbytery  April  5th,  1899; 
pastor  Westminster  Church  of  Carthage ;  later  pastor-at-large  of 
the  Presbytery  for  a  short  time ;  dismissed  June  3d,  1901,  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Emporia. 

CHARLES  B.  BOVING. 

Rev.  Charles  B.  Boving  is  of  Southern  Presbyterian  birth  and 
lineage.  He  was  born  November  26th,  1871,  at  Harrisonville, 
Mo.;  graduated  at  Westminster  College  1891  and  at  Princeton 
in  1895.    The  Presbytery  of  Lafayette  (U.  S.)  licensed  him  May 


260  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

9th,  1893,  and  ordained  him  September  12th,  L893.  From  May, 
1893,  to  October,  1898,  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Lamar  (U. 
S.),  and  then  served  the  Presbytery  of  Lafayette  as  pastor-at- 
large  until  May,  1899,  at  which  time  lie  entered  upon  his  labors 
at  Webb  City,  Mo.  The  Presbytery  received  him  September  19th, 
and  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Webb  City  Church  December 
19th,  1899.  The  6th  of  February,  1905,  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  and  Mr.  Boving  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Hannibal,  where  he  entered  upon  that  fruitful  pastorate  in  the 
first  church  of  Hannibal  that  continues  to  this  day.  In  his  Webb 
City  pastorate  Mr.  Boving  received  127  members  and  led  the 
church  in  the  erection  of  a  beautiful  sanctuary.  His  gifts  in  song 
and  his  evangelistic  tendencies  made  him  useful  as  a  helper  in 
special  services  conducted  in  a  number  of  our  churches,  and  he 
was  the  popular  leader  of  the  Young  People's  work  in  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

WILLIAM  ALEXANDER  SMITH. 

Received  from  the  Pawnee  Presbytery  United  Presbyterian 
Church  September  19th,  1899 ;  served  the  Conway  Church ;  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  John  (U.  S.)  ApriL9th,  1901. 

THOMAS  CHARBONNELL. 

Received  September  20th,  1899 ;  served  the  Waldensian 
Church ;  absent  from  Presbytery  some  years ;  placed  on  reserve 
roll  September  15th,  1904. 

EDWARD  J.  NUGENT. 

Born  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  October  loth,  1836 ;  graduated  at  the 
academy  of  that  place  1856 ;  studied  theology  in  private ;  was  a 
practicing  physician  for  a  time;  ordained  by  the  Foster  Presby- 
tery of  the  C.  P.  Church  October  1st,  1869.  Was  a  home  mission- 
ary and  evangelist  in  our  church  over  twenty  years  before  enter- 
ing this  Presbytery.  Served  as  Synodical  Evangelist  in  Illinois 
and  Presbyterial  Missionary  in  Black  Hills  Presbytery.  Received 
by  this  Presbytery  September  20th.  1899.  Served  Mammoth 
Springs  and  group  in  Arkansas  and  Fordland  and  Burnbam.  Mo. 
Retired  in  1903. 

-     JOHN  W.  KNOTT. 
Ordained   by    the    Presbvterv   of   Iowa   City   October.    1867. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  261 

received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Kendall  April  3rd,  1900.  Served 
the  Ash  Grove  church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Alton  on 
September  19,  1901. 

ABSALOM  T.  ALLER. 

The  Presbytery  has  known  comparatively  few  as  faithful 
Presbyters  as  A.  T.  Aller.  You  always  expected  him  to  respond 
to  the  first  and  last  roll  calls,  and  any  duty  that  Presbytery  as- 
signed him  was  viewed  in  the  light  of  a  sacred  obligation. 

Mr.  Aller  was  born  at  Carrollton,  Ohio,  August  21st,  1849, 
and  graduated  at  Wabash  College  in  1875.  For  a  time  he  taught 
in  the  public  schools  and  academies  of  his  native  State  and  in 
Illinois,  then  entered  upon  a  theological  course  and  graduated 
at  Western  Seminary  in  1886.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Steubenville  April  29th,  1885,  and  ordained  by  the  same 
Presbytery  the  following  April. 

Mr.  Aller 's  ministerial  life  has  been  spent  in  Kansas  and 
Missouri.  S.  S.  Grainfield,  Kan.,  1886- '88;  Norton,  Kan.,  '88- '91; 
pastor  Hav's  City,  Kan.,  '91- '94;  pastor  Nortonville,  Kan.,  '94- '96; 
S.  S.  Cawker  City,  Kan.,  '96- '99;  S.  S.  Bolivar  and  Fair  Play, 
Mo.,  '99-1904;  pastor  Ellsworth,  Kan.,  1904. 

He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  3d,  1900, 
and  served  the  Presbytery  as  Stated  Clerk  from  October  22d, 
1903  to  the  time  of  his  dismissal  from  the  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Aller 's  influence  in  the  Presbytery  was  considerable  by 
reason  of  his  thorough  knowledge  of  Presbyterian  law  and  usage 
and  he  was  one  of  the  best  Parlimentarians  we  have  had  in  recent 
years.  His  predictions  were  ever  conservative  and  his  convic- 
tions were  pronounced  and  stable.  A  certain  brother  laboring 
in  our  bounds  sought  admission  to  the  Presbytery.  This  brother 
had  been  a  Presbyterian  minister — had  united  with  the  Baptist 
church  and  had  subsequently  demitted  the  ministry.  At  this  time 
he  had  no  ecclesiastical  standing  and  to  most  of  us  it  was  evident 
that  reordaination  was  essential.  But  being  of  foreign  birth 
and  not  very  familiar  with  our  language  it  was  a  little  difficult 
for  him  to  see  the  necessity  of  this  step.  In  the  midst  of  the 
discussion  Aller  exclaimed:  "He's  been  under  the  water,  he  will 
have  to  be  ordained  again."  This  threw  the  applicant  off  on 
a  tangent  and  it  took  no  little  explanation  before  he  was  ready 
to  receive  "the  laying  on  of  hands  by  Presbytery." 

CHAELES  G.  HAMILTON. 

Ordained  by  Bishop  Haygood  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
September  24.  1893.  received  by  this  Presbytery  from  that  church 


262  Presbyterian jsm  in  the  Ozarks 

April  5,  1900,  served  as  assistant  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of 
Joplin,  then  as  stated  supply  and  pastor  of  the  Carl  Junction 
church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  February  27, 
1902. 

CHARLES  H.  BURKS. 

Received  September  1900.  Sunday  School  Missionary  of  the 
American  Sunday  School  Union  in  Arkansas.  Dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Choctaw  September  15,  1904. 

SHERROD  W.  GRIFFEX. 

Received  with  the  church  of  Mena.  Arkansas,  when  it  was 
transferred  from  the  Presbytery  of  Choctaw  October  24,  1900. 
Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  April  9,  1901. 

JOHN  H.  BRIGHT. 

Rev.  John  H.  Bright  graduated  at  Hanover  college  in  1876 
and  at  Princeton  Seminary  in  1879.  He  was  licensed  May  14, 
1878,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Albany  and  ordained  November 
17,  1879,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho.  Pastor  Chanute.  Kansas, 
'79- '85  pastor  Marion,  Kansas  '86-  '93.  pastor  Hopewell  church 
Franklin,  Indiana,  1894  to  1901.  On  the  9th  of  April.  1901,  he 
was  received  by  this  Presbytery  and  served  the  churches  of 
Mt.  Vernon  and  Ozark  Presbytery.  He  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Kansas  City  April  15.  1903. 

HENRY  LITTLE. 

A  volumnous  history  of  the  descendants  of  George  Little  who 
came  from  England  to  Newbury,  Mass..  in  1640.  gives  their  num- 
ber as  6500.  This  history  was  published  in  1882.  Since  that  date 
the  tribe  has  continued  to  increase.  In  this  roster  of  the  Littles 
are  thirty-eight  Henrys  and  a  few  Henriettas.  The  scion  of  this 
illustrious  family  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  one  of  the 
eighth  generation,  and  in  the  direct  line  of  descent  is  Henry  III. 
His  oldest  son  is  Henry  IV  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  numeral 
will  indicate  not  only  the  christian  name  but  ministerial  descent 
as  well.  Mr.  Little's  grandfather  was  for  many  years  superin- 
tendent of  Missions  in  Indiana  and  his  father  held  a  similar  po- 
sition in  the  Synod  of  Texas  for  over  two  decades. 

The  efficient  pastor  of  Calvary  church  was  born  in  Evansville. 


E.    L.    RENICK 


HENRY   LITTLE 


W.    C.    HICKS 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  263 

Indiana,  March  24,  1867,  and  graduated  at  Wabash  college  in  1891 
and  McCormick  Seminary  in  1895.  He  was  ordained  December 
1893,  by  the  Presbytery  of  North  Texas.  His  first  pastorate  was 
at  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  1895  to  1901.  He  was  received  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ozark  April  9,  1901.  At  his  installation  as  pastor  of 
Calvary  church  his  father  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor. 
A  part  of  the  charge  was  to  this  effect:  "My  son  be  a  preacher; 
strike  twelve  sometimes.  A  congregation  will  put  up  with  a  good 
many  poor  sermons  from  a  man  who  strikes  twelve  sometimes." 
Many  a  time  and  oft  has  the  son  heeded  the  parental  advice 
and  "struck  twelve."  It  is  said  that  in  his  first  pastorate  Chris- 
tian Science  Propagandists  were  invading  the  ranks  of  the  Pro- 
testant churches  of  the  city.  Different  pastors  hurled  their 
thunderbolts  against  the  cult  and  succeeded — in  driving  some  of 
their  members  into  the  C.  S.  fold.  Mr.  Little  hurled  no 
Anathemas  and  steered  clear  of  the  newspapers  but  began  an 
unannounced  series  of  sermons  on  the  atonement.  By  the  time  he 
had  preached  about  the  fifth  sermon  in  the  series  peop'e  pricked 
up  their  ears  to  listen.  His  fold  remained  in  tact.  This  is  but  a 
fair  illustration  of  his  method.  At  the  dedication  of  the  reunion 
church  in  Springfield  he  casually  looked  into  "the  barrel"  and 
dug  up  the  notes  of  one  of  that  series. That  it  was  calculated  to 
fulfill  the  purpose  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  those  who  heard  it 
at  the  dedication  were  not  content  until  the  sermon  was  preached 
before  the  Presbytery.  Under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Little  Cal- 
vary church  completed  the  work  of  Dr.  Leard  in  liquidating  the 
debt,  employed  an  assistant  pastor  to  minister  to  its  two  missions 
and  became  the  first  church  in  Southwest  Missouri  to  support  its 
foreign  mission  pastor.  The  Rev.  Charles  N.  Magill  of  Lucban, 
Philippines,  is  still  supported  by  this  church  at  an  annual  outlay 
of  $1,100.  Mr.  Little  was  elected  chairman  of  the  Presbyterial 
committee  on  Home  Missions  September,  1904,  and  served  the 
Presbytery  in  this  position  until  the  reorganization  in  1907. 

Mr.  Little  has  never  kissed  the  Blarney  stone  and  he  does 
not  wear  his  heart  on  his  coat  sleeve,  but  Hev.  C.  H.  Mitchelmore, 
who  was  his  assistant  pastor  for  some  time,  said:  "I  never  knew 
a  man  with  a  kinder  heart."  This  unsolicited  testimony  from 
such  a  source  is  but  a  merited  tribute  to  a  man  of  solid  worth. 
My  old  class  mate  Mathes  was  attempting  to  draw  a  distinction 
between  Mr.  Little  and  a  Co-Presbyter  in  their  dealings  with 
Presbyters  with  "Kinks  in  their  character"  or  "wheels  in  their 
heads,"  and  he  said: can  saw  a  man's  right  arm  off  as  un- 
erringly and  with  as  much  decision  as  Little,  but  Little  would  do 
it  without  batting  an  eye."  Beecher  said:  "They  tell  us  that 
Calvinism  plies  men  with  hammer  and  with  chisel.     It  does;  and 


264  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  result  is  monumental  marble.  Other  systems  Leave  men  soft 
and  dirty;  Calvinism  makes  them  of  white  marble,  to  endure  fo- 
ever."    Mr.  Little  is  a  fair  product  of  the  system. 

J.  G.  HEWITT. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids  September 
Served  the  Mt.  Zion,  Willard  and  Evans  ehurehes.  Dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Emporia  April  16,  1902. 

GEO.  W.  McKINNEY. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids  September 
18,  1901.  Served  the  Mena  church.  Engaged  in  secular  pursuits. 
Dismissed  to  the  presbytery  of  Parkersburg  April  18.  1906. 

John  W.  ELTZHOLTZ. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  September  19.  1901. 
Served  the  Eureka  Springs  church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
Milwaukee  February  26,  1903.  Mr.  Eltzholtz  received  his  train- 
ing in  the  Methodist  church. 

WILLIAM  FROST  BISHOP. 

Born  October  2,  1854,  Petersburg.  Va.  The  scholastic  attain- 
ments of  Dr.  Bishop  and  his  fluency  of  speech  are  well  remembered 
by  his  co-Presbyters.  He  was  the  first  honor  man  in  Hampden 
Sidney  college  in  1871  and  studied  theology  in  Union  Seminary 
Virginia,  two  years.  The  Presbytery  of  East  Hanover,  Va.,  licen- 
sed him  May  19,  1877,  and  ordained  him  the  following  day.  He 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Lawson  college  and  Ph.  D. 
Westminster.  Dr.  Bishop's  pastorates  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
,U  S.  were:  Ashland,  Va..  1877  to  1884;  Kansas  City  Central 
church  1884  to  1889;  Liberty,  Mo..  1890  to  1900.  He  was  received 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozjirk  September  19.  1901.  served  the  West- 
minster church  of  Carthage  as  stated  supply  and  pastor ;  stated 
supply  of  the  Ebenezer  church  for  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1903.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbvterv  of  Hannibal  Septem- 
ber 24,  1903. 

AXSLEM  B.  BROWN. 

Mr.  Brown  is  of  Congregational  lineage  and  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  educational  work.     He  supplied  Fordland  church 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  265 

for  a  short  time  and  later  preached  at  West  Plains.  Received 
April  16,  1902,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Los  Angeles.  Dismissed 
to  Choctaw  Presbytery  February  26,  1903. 

C.  A.  EMMONS 

Mr.  Emmons  preached  in  the  M,  E.  Church,  South,  until  he 
was  near  his  three  score  and  ten  and  then  was  received  from  that 
body  April  16,  1902.  He  served  the  Mena  church  a  few  months 
and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  North  Texas,  November 
12th.  1903. 

HENRY  HEPBURN. 

Mr.  Hepburn  came  direct  from  McCormick  Seminary  and 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  Monett  church  where  his  work  that 
gave  promise  of  large  usefulness  terminatetd  under  the  convic- 
tion that  he  should  enter  a  larger  field.  He  was  born  at  Hopkins, 
Mo.,  November  3,  1872,  graduated  at  Park  college  1899  and  at 
McCormick  Seminary  1902,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Ozark  June  5,  1902.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  and 
he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ottawa  March  27.  1905. 

AMOS  H.  DEAN. 

Had  I  not  given  too  much  space  already  to  these  sketches 
it  would  bo  interesting  to  sketch  at  length  the  life  of  this  sweet 
spirited  and  able  brother  who  only  touched  the  borders  of  the 
Presbytery.  Dr.  Dean  came  to  us  in  quest  of  health  and  while 
here  preached  for  the  Eureka  Springs  church.  He  was  received 
from  the  Presbvtery  of  Schuyler  September  16,  1872,  and  died 
February  12,  1903. 

LOUIS   HENRY   SHANE. 

Another  brother  who  instantly  won  a  warm  place  in  the 
hearts  of  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  was  Rev.  L.  H.  Shane. 
He  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Solomon  February  26, 
1903,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Joplin 
March  19.  This  pastorate  so  auspiciously  begun  was  terminated 
September  14,  1904  on  account  of  the  complete  nervous  collapse 
of  the  pastor.  Mr.  Shane  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Columbus  October  14.  1905. 


266  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

WILLIAM    X.   CROZIER. 

Mr.  Crozier  spent  the  first  eight  or  ten  years  of  bis  ministry 
in  China  as  a  missionary.  He  was  horn  in  Paris.  111.,  in  1863, 
and  graduated  at  Arkansas  University  in  1888  and  McCormiek 
Seminary  1891.  He  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Nanking 
April  15,  1903.  Served  the  Buffalo,  Conway  and  Evans  churches, 
and  later  the  church  of  Seneca.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Sequoyah  September  13,  1905. 

WILLIAM  L.   HACKETT. 

Our  English  cousin  to  the  north.  Ontario.  Canada  gave  birth 
and  training  to  William  L.  Hackett.  He  was  educated  at  St. 
Mary's  Academy,  studied  theology  under  a  private  tutor,  and  was 
ordained  in  the  Methodist  church  of  Canada  in  1878.  Served 
New  Hamburg,  Alvinston  and  Iona.  Canada,  1881  to  1886.  As- 
sistant secretary  Minnesota  Confernce  1885.  Mr.  Hackett  enter- 
ed the  Presbyterian  ministry  in  1891  and  served  a  group  of 
churches  in  Minnesota.  In  quest  of  health  for  members  of  his 
family  he  moved  south,  where  he  preached  for  a  time  and  then 
engaged  in  secular  pursuits.  He  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Columbia  April  15.  1903,  and  took  charge  of  the  churches 
of  Ash  Grove,  Mt.  Zion  and  Willard.  While  ministering  to  the 
Ash  Grove  flock  the  house  of  worship  was  destroyed  by  fire  and 
after  using  the  Cumberland  church  for  a  time  Mr.  Hackett  relin- 
quished the  work  to  become  pastor  at  large  of  the  Presbytery. 
In  this  position  aided  by  the  Sunday  School  Missionary  Rev.  E.  L. 
Renick.  he  gathered  a  thriving  congregation  at  Crane,  organized 
the  church  and  led  them  in  the  erection  of  a  beautiful  house  of 
worship.  Subsequently  Mr.  Hackett  took  charge  of  the  churches 
of  Conway.  Mt.  Zion  and  Willard.  Mr.  Hackett  is  a  clear  and 
logical  thinker  and  a  preacher  of  good  ability. 

DAVID  BELL  WHIMSTER. 

Like  the  subject  of  the  preceding  sketch  Mr.  Whimster  first 
saw  the  light  of  day  in  Canada.  He  was  born  at  Kingston,  On- 
tario, and  studied  at  the  Collegiate  Institute  and  Knox  Theological 
Seminary.  He  was  licensed  and  ordained  July,  1873.  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Owen  Sound.  In  the  land  of  his  birth  he  served 
various  churches  from  1872  to  1881.  Was  stated  clerk  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Winnepeg  Secretary  of  Home  Mission  Committee, 
stated  clerk  of  the  Synod  of  Manitoba  and  North  Washington 
Territorv.     In   this   country   he   has   served   churches   in   Kansas. 


PRESBYTERIAXISM    IX    THE    OZARKS  267 

Colorado,  Ohio  and  Missouri.  He  was  received  by  this  Presby- 
tery April  15,  1903,  served  the  West  Plains  and  Burnham 
churches  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Joseph  just 
at  the  organization  of  the  New  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 

Mr,  Whimster  is  a  minister  of  good  parts  and  has  an  unusu- 
ally exacted  Esprit  de  Corps  in  the  ranks  of  his  calling. 

THOMAS  ANDERSON  CLAGETT. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra  September  23. 1903, 
served  the  Eureka  Springs  church  a  short  time.  Dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Lar-ned  September  15.  1904. 

JOHN  R.  TRETT. 

Received  April  20,  1904  from  Presbytery  of  Emporia,  served 
a  group  of  churches  in  Jasper  county.  Entered  educational  work 
in  Arkansas. 

GEO.  B.  SPROULE. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City  April  20,  1904. 
served  the  Mammoth  Springs  group  of  churches  a  short  time. 

HEZEKIAH  M.  GILBERT. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  April  20.  1904.  pas- 
tor of  the  Neosho  church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis  October  31.  1904. 

PLINY  S.  SMITH. 

Received  April  20,  1904.  Served  the  churches  of  Buffalo. 
Evans  and  Conway.  Honorably  retired.  When  Mr.  Smith  wrote 
me  to  request  the  Presbytery  to  place  him  on  the  H.  R.  Roll,  he 
said:  "I  feel  that  I  can  preach  as  well  as  I  ever  could,  but  the 
churches  and  my  family  say  I  am  getting  too  old  and  I  guess  I 
will  have  to  accep't  their  judgment."  His  sweetness  of  spirit  has 
left  its  impression  on  my  life." 

EBENEZER  EDGAR  MATHES. 

"Has  there  any  old  fellow  got  mix^d  with  the  boys? 
If  there  has  take  him  out  without  making  a  noise." 
And  you  may  rest  assured  that  the  old  fellow  is  not  E.  E.  M. 
Gray  hairs  may  cover  the  crown  and  whiskers  may  defy  the  spirit 


268  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

but  Mathes  will  si  ill  he  a  boy.  Together  we  entered  McCormick 
Seminary  in  September  1887.  In  a  few  days  he  could  call  by 
name  every  student,  and  Ave  knew  him  then  as  well  as  we  know 
him  now.  He  was  born  in  Washington  county.  Tennessee,  in 
1863  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  and  graduated  at  Greenville  and 
Tiiseuliim  college  in  '87  and  McCormick  Seminary  in  1890.  He 
applied  for  a  commission  under  the  Foreign  Board  but  failed  to 
pass  the  medical  examination  and  entered  the  Home  Mission 
work  in  the  Indian  Territory.  While  he  was  ye1  young  in  the 
ministry  one  of  "the  sisters"  declared  "Mr.  Mathes  may  not 
preach  as  good  as  some  men,  but  he  can  offer  the  finest  prayer 
that  ever  polluted  a  mortal's  lips."  From  the  Indian  Territory 
he  went  to  Icwa  and  from  there  he  entered  this  Presbytery  April 
29,  1903.  For  about  a  year  he  served  as  pastor  at  large  with 
great  acceptance  and  resigned  his  work  to  take  charge  of  the 
Ebenezer  church.  A  change  of  climate  becoming  imperative 
he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Rio  Grande  September  29. 
1905.  Mr.  Mathes  is  gifted  with  a  buoyant  spirit  and  a  retentive 
memory,  especially  for  names,  places,  faces  and  dates.  One  of 
his  co-Presbyters  remarked  that  he  exhibited  such  a  knowledge 
of  Eureka  Springs  that  he  inferred  that  Mathes  had  lived  there 
for  years  and  was  surprised  to  learn  that  he  had  only  visited 
there  for  a  few  days. 

GLAUS  OLANDT. 

Mr.  Olandt  began  his  ministry  as  assistant  to  the  pastor  of 
the  First  Church  of  Joplin  and  then  took  charge  of  the  Mission 
which  was  organized  into  Bethany  church.  He  had  had  consid- 
erable previous  training  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  and  was  especially 
gifted  as  a  personal  worker  and  in  Bible  readings.  The  Presby- 
tery ordained  him  April  29,  1903,  and  that  same  day  installed  him 
pastor  of  the  Bethany  church.  His  work  in  this  difficult  field  was 
unusually  successful  and  from  time  to  time  it  became  necessary 
to  make  additions  to  the  house  of  worship.  The  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  June  1,  1905,  and  he  was  dismissed  to  the  classis 
of  Westchester  July  13,  1905. 

EDWARD  A.  CURDY. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  November  12.  1903, 
served  the  Weldensian  church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Highland  September  13,  1905. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  269 

SIMPSON  VERNON  SYDENSTICKER. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Fort  Seott  (Cumberland) 
October  27,  1904,  served  the  Ash  Grove  church.  Entered  Lane 
Seminary  as  a  student. 

JACOB  F.  SCHERER. 

Received  from  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Kansas. 
Engaged  in  secular  work.  Preached  at  Mt.  Vernon  and  other 
churches,  later  at  Willow  Springs  for  a  time. 

NATHANIEL  CHESTNUT. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Nebraska  City  April  14,  1882. 
Received  from  Presbytery  of  Topeka  April  19,  1905.  Pastoi 
Eureka  Springs  church. 

BENJAMIN  L.  STUART. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  City  April  19,  1905. 
S.  S.  Neosho  church.  Dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho 
September  12,  1906. 

BENJAMIN  MILAM  SHIVE. 

Born  at  Houstin,  Miss.,  February  19,  1862.  Graduated  at 
Arkansas  college,  taught  school,  spent  one  year  in  S.  W.  P.U. 
Seminary  and  graduated  at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Va., 
1893.  Mr.  Shive  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Arkansas  June 
8,  1892,  and  ordained  by  Columbia  Presbytery  U.  S.,  Sept.  3rd, 
1892.  He  took  a  P.  G.  course  in  Scotland,  '95-6,  and  served  various 
churches  in  the  Presbyterian  church  IT.  S.,  in  the  southern  states. 
The  Arkansas  college  gave  him  the  degree  of  D.  D.  Dr.  Shive 
is  a  preacher  of  good  pulpit  ability,  and  is  a  fair  sample  of  the 
southern  conservative  theologian.  In  1895  he  accepted  the  pas- 
torate of  the  First  church  of  Joplin. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  LOGAN. 

Mr.  Logan  is  cosmopolitan  in  his  ecclesiastical  tastes,  having 
been  in  the  ministry  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  Congrega- 
tional and  Presbyterian  churches,  and  after  the  union  went  with 
the  anti-union  element  of  the  C.  P.  Church. 


270  Presbyterianism  in  the  (  )/.arks 

He  was  received  April  2().  1!)<>.~>.  from  the  Congregational 
Association.     Served  the  churches  of  Salem,  Preston  and  Grace. 

.J.   II.  GLANVILLB. 

.lames  Halls  Granville  was  ordained  October  fi.  1889.  by 
Bishop  J.  C.  Greenberry,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  He  served 
various  churches  in  that  connection,  spent  a  time  in  educational 
work  and  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  I).  Mr.  Glan- 
ville  entered  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark 
April  20,  1905.  He  had  contemplated  this  step  for  some  time  and 
had  acquainted  himself  with  the  doctrines  and  polity  of  the 
church  of  his  adoption.  He  first  served  as  stated  supply  of  the 
Bolivar  and  Fair  Play  churches.  Then  received  a  call  to  the  West 
Plains  Church,  where  he  was  installed  September  20,  1908.  Here 
he  gives  promise  of  great  usefulness,  modest  and  retiring  in  dis- 
position. Dr.  Glanville  is  scholarly  in  his  attainments  and  pains- 
taking in  the  performance  of  every  duty, 

JOHN  FRANKLIN  SHEPHERD. 

Dr.  Shepherd  was  nurtured  on  the  Shorter  Catechism  in 
youth,  but  removed  from  Presbyterian  associations  and  entered 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  He  was  born  in  Antioch,  Ohio, 
March  7,  1860,  took  a  select  course  in  Madison  Academy  and  Ohio 
University  graduated  at  Union  Biblical  Seminary.  Dayton.  Ohio, 
1888;  pursued  a  three  years'  post-graduate  course  and  received 
the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  from  Oteerbein  University  180:};  received  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  from  Richmond  College  in  1905.  His  record  in  the 
U.  B.  Church  is  as  follows :  Ordained  September  17,  1887.  by  the 
East  Ohio  Conference ;  pastor  Denver,  Col..  First  U.  B.  Church 
1888;  Akron,  Ohio,  1890;  presiding  elder  East  Ohio  Conference 
1893- '96.  In  Akron  Dr.  Shepherd  built  a  church  costing  $18,000. 
He  relinquished  a  seat  in  the  General  Conference  of  1896  to  enter 
the  church  of  his  early  childhood  and  served  the  Madison  Presby- 
terian Church  of  West  Point,  Ohio,  1896-1899.  His  next  fields  of 
labor  were  Carrollton  and  New  Hamsbury,  Ohio.  1899-1902.  and 
Fairbury,  Neb.,  1902-1905.  At  New  Hamsbury  he  built  a  house 
of  worship  and  at  Fairbury  a  manse. 

Dr.  Shepherd  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  May 
17,  1905,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Webb  City  Church  June 
11th,  after  a  little  over  a  month's  service  on  the  field.  With  char- 
acteristic vigor  he  entered  upon  this  work  at  an  opportune  time, 
rapidly  increased  the  roll  of  the  church  and  in  twenty  months 
secured  a  pipe  organ  and  other  improvements  costing  $3,200.   Un- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  271 

der  his  ministry  the  First  Church  and  the  Cumberland  Church 
were  united  without  any  loss  or  friction.  The  house  of  worship 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Cumberland  Church  was  presented  to 
the  little  band  of  Presbyterians  gathered  in  the  adjoining  city  of 
Carterville.  Dr.  Shepherd  was  made  Provisional  Chairman  of 
Home  Missions  in  the  western  section  of  the  Presbytery  just  prior 
to  the  reorganization.  His  subsequent  work  in  the  new  Presby- 
tery of  Carthage  belongs  to  another  volume. 

HUSTON  TAYLOR.    ■ 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul  July  27,  1900,  Mr. 
Taylor  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Utica  in  the  fall  of 
1905.  The  26th  of  November  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  first 
church  of  Carthage.  He  was  subsequently  appointed  Chairman 
of  the  Commitee  on  Foreign  Missions  and  at  once  bean  to  project 
new  methods  to  develop  interest  in  this  important  branch  of 
church  benevolences. 

CHARLES  HENRY  MITCHELMORE. 

Received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Hastings  April  18,  1906 ; 
assistant  pastor  of  Calvary  Church.  If  you  ever  grow  shaky  on 
the  question  of  the  scripturalness  of  the  Presbyterian  mode  of 
baptism  send  for  this  sweet-spirited  brother.  Gifted  as  a  personal 
worker  and  as  a  Bible  teacher,  I  can  only  wish  he  had  entered 
Ozark  Presbytery  sooner. 

ROBERT  L.  KINNAIRD. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri  November  30, 
1902  :  received  April  18,  1906 ;  pastor  of  Bethany  Church,  Joplin. 

ABRAM  NELSON  WYLIE. 

Ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  April  19,  1906,  Mr. 
Wylie  was  the  last  man  ordained  by  the  old  Presbytery  of  Ozark. 
He  had  served  the  Presbytery  as  a  Sunday  school  missionary  in 
Arkansas,  and  had  endured  hardships  and  privations  there  for  a 
number  of  years,  during  which  he  pursued  the  prescribed  course 
for  local  evangelists.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Ravenden 
Springs  Church  in  May,  1906.  Anent  the  consummation  of  the 
union  he  Avas  dismissed  with  his  church  to  the  Presbytery  of 
White  River  A  (formerly  C.  P.)  September  13,  1906. 


272  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

A  PL  A  EDWIN  PAUST. 

Received  i'l-oin  the  West  Plains  Presbytery  (C.  1'.  >  June  29, 
1906.  Served  the  Irwin  Church  while  enlisted  in  secular  occupa- 
tion. 

J.  W.  BUDIBURG. 

The  last  pastorate  consummated  by  the  old  Presbytery  of 
Ozark  was  that  of  J.  W.  Hudiburg  and  the  Neosho  Church  April 
17,  1907.  Mr.  Hudiburg  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Lexington  (C.  P.)  October  24.  1906. 

SAMUEL  WILEY. 

Received  the  same  date  as  the  above  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Omaha.     Supplied  the  North  Heights  Church,  Joplin. 

JOHN  WILSON. 

0.  C.  CITDE. 
EDWIN  J.  RICE. 

These  brethren  were  received  April  17,  1907.  Their  biogra- 
phies have  many  points  of  interest,  but  do  not  properly  belong  to 
this  volume  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  this  history  closes  with  the 
reorganization'  of  the  Presbytery. 

These  sketches  contain  the  names  of  182  ministers  who  at 
some  time  during  the  eighty-six  years  prior  to  1908  were  mem- 
bers of  Ozark  Presbytery  or  its  predecessors.  I  have  had  a  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  127  of  this  number.  Other  ministers 
have  labored,  in  our  bounds  for  a  short  time,  but  so  far  as  the 
record  goes  were  not  officially  identified  with  the  Presbyteries. 
Theological  students  and  local  evangelists  have  also  labored  in 
the  Presbytery,  but  I  have  not  attempted  to  enumerate  their  la- 
bors save  where  they  reached  ordination.  At  the  close  I  feel  like 
reiterating  the  statement  made  in  the  note  introducing  these 
sketches:  "The  space  given  a  minister  is  not  necessarily  in  pro- 
portion to  his  abilities  or  deserts."  etc.  Sometimes  I  have  failed 
to  get  adequate  information ;  sometimes  the  services — substan- 
tial and  faithful  have  been  so  along  beaten  paths  as  to  be  un- 
eventful and  to  elude  detailed  description  save  weighed  in  the 
equitable  balances  of  the  great  day.  And  sometimes  it  must  be 
confessed  the  length  and  interest  of  the  sketch  depended  upon 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  273 

the  mood  of  the  writer.  The  old  students  of  Dr.  Herriek  Johnson 
may  be  surprised  at  the  frequent  violations  of  his  "cardinals"— 
"unity,  order,  movement!"  But  let  them  recall  his  wise  pre- 
caution against" Piecemeal."  Of  necessity  these  sketches  have 
been  so  written.  If  to  any  they  seem  to  be  characterized  by  too 
much  levity  let  him  remember  that  some  of  them  were  written 
on  "Blue  Mondays,"  when  the  mortal  mind  and  frame  were 
crying  out  for  relaxation. 


274  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  IX. 


ETCHINGS   FROM    THE    PEWS. 


"Once  the  men  were  so  ureal  and  so  few,  they  appear, 

Through  a   distant  Olympian  atmosphere. 

Like  vast  Caryatids  upholding  the  age. 

Now  the  men  are  so  many  and  small,  disengage 

One  man  from  the  million  to  mark  him,  next  moment 

The  crowd  sweeps  him  hurriedly  out  of  your  comment ; 

And  since  we  seek  vainly  (to  praise  in  our  songs) 

'Mid  our  fellows  the  size  which  to  heroes  belongs, 

"We  take  the  whole  age  for  a  hero,  in  want 

Of  a  better;  and  still,  in  its  favour,  descant 

On  the  strength  and  the  beauty  which,  failing  to  find 

In  any  one  man,  we  ascribe  to  mankind." 

Hitherto  I  have  taken  a  whole  church  as  a  eolaborer  with  a 
pastor  in  building  up  the  kingdom  of  God  after  the  Presbyterian 
way  in  Southwest  Missouri.  Now  I  shall  glance  back  to  the  time 
when  "men  were  so  great  and  so  few"  that  it  may  not  seem  in- 
vidious to  single  out  a  few  for  portrayal.  The  knell  of  the  de- 
parting day  in  the  existence  of  the  first  Presbytery  of  Ozark — 
June  18,  1907 — tolled  in  the  hearing  of  five  elders  who  held  the 
same  position  in  their  respective  churches  when  the  birth  throes 
of  the  Presbytery  were  experienced  in  1870.  They  are  William 
E.  Thompson,  of  Mount  Zion  Church;  William  H.  Schmalhorst, 
of  Conway;  J.  L.  Carson  and  William  R.  Gorton,  of  Calvary,  and 
Dr.  A.  C.  Schell,  of  Neosho.  I  shall  sketch  these  first,  and  then 
turn  your  attention  to  others. 

WILLIAM  E.  THOMPSON. 

Of  the  three  Williams  belonging  to  this  quintet,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son is  entitled  to  the  seniority  in  the  eldership  of  his  church  and 
Mr.   Schmalhorst  in  age.     The  subjoined  sketch  of  his  lift1  Avas. 


WM.    THOMPSON 


WM.    SCHMALHORST 


■ 

if^M 

"» 

^^ 

M  ::"  yr 

^^H 

W.   L.    SCROGGS 


A.  C.   SCHELL 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  275 

written  by  Mrs.  M.  L.  Easier,  who  in  girlhood  was  a  scholar  in 
the  Sunday  school  of  which  he  was  Superintendent : 

"William  E.  Thompson,  of  Mount  Zion  Church,  Cave  Spring, 
Mo.,  was  born  in  Blount  County,  East  Tennessee,  April  28,  1827. 
He  gave  his  heart  to  God  when  but  a  lad  fourteen  years  of  age, 
his  conversion  taking  place  while  on  his  way  home  from  church. 
This  was  one  of  the  bright  spots  in  the  memory  of  this  good  man 
who  often  referred  to  this  early  turning  point  in  his  life.  It  was 
there  in  that  East  Tennessee  forest,  deep  conviction  peircing  his 
soul,  that  he  made  a  complete  surrender  to  Christ.  About  a  year 
later  he  joined  the  Sinking  Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  being  re- 
ceived into  its  communion  by  Rev.  John  Dyke. 

"In  1850  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  M. 
Ernest,  a  lovely  and  devoted  Christian  lady,  who  was  a  resident 
of  the  same  community  and  member  of  the  same  church.  The 
following  year  they  moved  to  Greene  County,  Missouri,  locating 
in  the  vicinity  of  Cave  Spring.  On  their  arrival  they  placed  their 
church  certificate  in  Mount  Zion  Church,  where  throughout  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  they  honored  God  in  the  liberal  support 
of  his  cause  and  friendly  relations  with  their  neighbors.  For 
fifty-six  years  this  devoted  couple  trod  the  pathway  of  life  to- 
gether until  Mrs.  Thompson's  death,  which  occurred  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1906.  In  May,  1900,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding, 
their  friends  assembling  in  such  numbers  that  only  the  spacious 
lawn  could  accommodate  them. 

"The  writer  has  but  a  vague  memory  of  the  old  log  church, 
with  its  dimly  lighted  iterior,  the  pews,  the  high  pulpit  with  its 
flight  of  steps  on  one  side,  the  platform  just  in  front,  where  the 
leader  of  the  singing  stood  as  he  alternately  'lined'  and  led  the 
singing  of  those  dear  old  hymns  of  our  fathers.  Mr.  Thompson 
filled  this  office  most  efficiently  for  several  years  before  the  ad- 
vent of  the  church  organ. 

"In  1856  the  church  elected  him  a  ruling  elder,  which  office 
he  held  continuously  for  fifty-two  years,  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  loss  the  church  suffered  February  3,  1908.  In 
this  office  he  was  indeed  a  true  under-shepherd,  ever  seeking  the 
peace  and  safety  of  his  flock. 

"It  was  during  the  seventies  that  the  writer  remembers  him 
best  while  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  he  came  into 
such  close  sympathy  with  the  young  people.  His  greeting  was 
always  the  same — a  friendly  hand-shake  and  a  fervent  inquiry 
as  to  both  physical  and  soul  health.  It  was  his  continued  inter- 
est in  new  converts  which  he  showed  by  words  of  sympathy  and 
encouragement  that  endeared  him  to  all  hearts  and  made  him 
fruitful  in  2:ood  works. 


276  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  * 

•'His  earthly  Life  is  ended.  He  died  as  hie  often  prayed  to 
die,  "the  death  of  the  righteous  and  in  the  triumph  of  a  holy 
faith."  His  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  village  church  yard  be- 
side his  dear  wife  and  the  children  who  bad  passed  on  before.  He 
is  survived  by  three  daughters  and  one  son.  His  memory  will 
live  not  alone  in  their  hearts,  hut  in  the  affections  of  a  large  circle 
of  relatives  and  friends." 

WILLIAM  H.  SCHMALHORST. 

In  December,  1868,  a  church  was  organized  at  Schmalhorsl  s 
Mill,  in  Laclede  County,  and  was  christened  Panther  Creek.  Sub- 
sequently it  was  decided  to  erect  the  house  of  worship  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Conway  and  the  name  was  changed  to  correspond  with 
the  new  location.  Mr.  Schmalhorst  was  one  of  the  charter  elders 
and  holds  his  position  in  the  session  to  this  day.  One  son  shares 
the  eldership  with  him,  another  son  is  superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
hath  school,  and  his  children  and  children's  children  constitute 
a  large  part  of  the  membership.  Very  few  churches  that  are  so 
largely  dependent  upon  one  family  have  enjoyed  the  peace  and 
prosperity  accorded  to  this  one,  and  this  fact  is  a  beautiful  com- 
mentary upon  the  life  of  this  sturdy  founder  of  the  family.  Mr. 
Schmalhorst  was  born  in  Germany  in  October,  1825.  He  came 
to  America  in  1839  and  settled  in  Perry  County,  Missouri,  in  the 
spring  of  1840.  From  there  he  moved  to  Laclede  County  in  the 
spring  of  1854.  The  town  of  Conway  was  not  on  the  map  at  that 
time  and  Mr.  Schmalhorst  says  there  were  but  two  Presbyterians 
in  the  county,  although  the  Cumberland  Church  of  Phillipsburg 
was  in  existence.  There  were  no  foreshadowings  of  reunion  at 
that  time  and  sturdy  Presbyterians  were  not  confined  in  church 
relations  and  attendance  by  county  lines.  Accordingly  the  Schmal- 
horsts  identified  themselveswith  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  White 
Rock,  in  Texas  County.  This  church  was  of  New  School  proclivi- 
ties, but  the  Panther  Creek  was  Old  School.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmal- 
horst reared  a  large  family  of  boys  and  girls,  and  by  thrift,  indus- 
try and  economy  accumulated  considerable  property.  From  all 
reports  his  wife  must  have  made  a  worthy  effort  to  fashion  her 
life  after  the  pattern  Solomon  has  delineated  in  his  "Virtuous 
Woman."  She  entered  into  her  reward  many  years  ago,  and  her 
husband  has  put  to  good  use  the  savings  of  their  lives.  His  bene- 
factions have  not  been  confined  to  the  local  church,  which  largely 
through  his  generosity  obtained  a  comfortable  manse;  but  he  has 
frequently  made  generous  individual  contributions  to  the  Boards 
of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  and  to  Park  College. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  277 

JOHN  L.  CARSON. 

'Sir.  Carson  was  born  in  Williamson  County,  Tennessee,  No- 
vember 4th,  1833.  In  1855  he  came  to  Springfield,  and  with  the 
exception  of  one  year's  residence  in  St.  Louis  (1870)  he  has  been 
associated  with  the  commercial  interests  of  the  city  or  the  politi- 
cal activities  of  the  county  for  over  half  a  century.  For  over 
forty  years  he  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Calvary  church.  The  Pres- 
bytery of  Southwest  Missouri  elected  him  a  Commissioner  to  the 
General  Assembly  in  1869.  For  some  years  feeble  health  has  pre- 
vented his  active  participation  in  the  interests  of  the  church,  but 
he  adorns  the  eldership  with  an  unsullied  life,  an  unfaltering  faith 
and  a  sweet  resignation  in  bearing  the  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir. 

,  WILLIAM  R.  GORTON. 

The  birthplace  of  William  R.  Gorton  was  Norwichtown. 
Conn.  There  in  1832  he  began  "the  struggle  for  existence." 
When  yet  a  lad  of  seventeen  years  he  united  with  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  that  place.  At  about  the  time  he  reached 
his  majority  he  adopted  the  sage's  advice,  "Go  West,"  etc.  In 
1853  he  settled  in  St.  Louis  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
There  he  united  with  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  and  threw 
the  energies  of  his  young  manhood  into  the  work  of  the  Sabbath 
school  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  From  St.  Louis  Mr.  Gorton  came  to 
Springfield  during  the  war  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
under  the  firm  name  of  Gorton,  Abbott  &  Co.  From  the  outset 
of  his  residence  here  he  and  his  wife  were  identified  with  the 
Calvary  Church.  He  was  elected  elder  in  1869  and  the  following 
spring  was  the  representative  of  his  church  in  the  last  session  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri.  That  Presbytery  elected 
him  temporary  clerk  and  lay  commissioner  to  the  General  As- 
sembly. So  efficient  were  his  clerical  services  to  the  Presbytery 
that  he  has  since  held  the  temporary  clerkship  in  the  Presbytery 
more  frequently  than  any  other  man.  His  special  fitness  in  this 
sphere  was  recognized  by  his  own  church  when  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  session  at  the  death  of  Charles  Sheppard  in  1887.  Since 
its  organization  in  1860  Calvary  Church  has  had  but  these  two 
clerks  of  session.  For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Gorton 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  and  during  this  time  he 
was  an  efficient  factor  in  the  development  of  this  church  from  a 
mission  church  to  a  strong,  self-sustaining  one.  For  nearly  half 
of  a  century  Mr.  Gorton  has  been  identified  with  the  work  of 
Calvary  Church  and  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri, 
and  throughout  these  years  he  has  maintained  an  esprit  de  corps 
that  is  refreshing  to  see. 


2j<S  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

DR.  A.  ('.  SCHBLL. 

Like  the  subjects  of  the  preceding  sketches,  Dr.  Schell  was 
an  elder  in  his  chnreh  at  the  organization  and  at  the  passing  of 
the  first  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  But,  unlike  them,  his  services  in 
lliis  capacity  were  interrupted. 

II.'  was  horn  in  Schellsburg,  Pa.,  July  31,  1831.  In  1853  he 
made  a  trip  through  Missouri  and  Iowa,  and  after  a  residence  in 
Ohio  and  Michigan  he  moved  to  Neosho,  Mo..  September,  1867. 
He  had  united  with  the  church  when  twenty  years  of  age,  and  at 
Lima,  Ohio,  was  superintendent  of  the  Presbyterian  Sabbath 
school.  Less  than  sixty  days  after  his  arrival  in  Neosho  he  was 
instrumental  in  procuring  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  place.  He  practiced  dentistry  in  Neosho  and  Car- 
thage, and  his  genial  pastor,  Rev.  J.  W.  Pinkerton,  induced  him 
to  reside  in  Carthage  for  one  year  to  strengthen  the  feeble  knees 
of  that  little  flock.  He  was  the  first  elder  commissioner  to  the 
General  Assembly  elected  by  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ozark  (1871). 
After  five  years'  residence  in  Southwest  Missouri  Dr.  Schell 
moved  to  Kansas  City  and  practiced  dentistry  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  In  1903  he  returned  to  Neosho  and  was  at  once  re- 
elected to  the  eldership  in  the  church. 

DAVID  APPLEBY. 

The  name  Appleby  is  bourne  by  a  host  of  people  scattered 
throughout  Greene  and  adjoining  counties.  A  goodly  number  of 
these  are  the  direct  descendants  of  David  Appleby,  but  I  shall 
make  no  attempt  to  tangle  myself  in  the  meshes  of  the  inter- 
penerating  lines  of  descent.  A  grandson — himself  a  man  of  dis- 
cernment— told  me  that  in  his  judgment  David  Appleby  had  the 
brightest  mind  of  any  one  of  the  name.  He  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1788.  His  father  took  his  family  to  Georgia  in  1791. 
and  about  1809  made  another  move  to  Middle  Tennessee.  Here 
David  was  married  and  here  his  seven  children  were  born.  In 
1832  he  emigrated  to  Wayne  County,  Missouri,  and  about  a  year 
later  came  to  Springfield.  If,  as  is  probable,  this  was  in  1833,  it 
was  the  year  that  Greene  County  was  organized — not  with  its 
present  limits,  but  extending  from  the  western  and  southern 
boundaries  of  the  State  to  the  Gasconade  River  on  the  east  and  to 
the  Osage  fork  on  the  north — a  vast  parallelogram  75x100  miles 
in  area.  Six  years  later  (1839)  the  Mount  Zion  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized.  Mr.  Appleby  was  elected  a  ruling  elder, 
and,  although  his  farm  was  fifteen  miles  from  the  place  of  wor- 
ship, it  is  said  that  he  rarely  missed  the  monthly  services  or  the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  279 

special  meetings  of  the  session.  Ten  years  later  the  Springfield 
Church  was  organized  and  he  became  a  charter  elder  in  the  new 
church.  He  was  probably  the  most  influential  elder  in  the  first 
Presbytery  of  Osage,  attended  its  meetings  regularly,  though 
they  were  frequently  held  a  hundred  miles  from  his  home  and 
his  rare  judgment  was  deferred  to  by  ministry  and  laity.  He 
was  probably  the  Chairman  of  Home  Missions — at  least  it  ap- 
pears that  he  had  the  main  voice  in  apportioning  the  missionary 
funds  among  the  missionaries.  In  the  troublous  times  that  led  to 
the  disbanding  of  Osage  Presbytery,  when  the  pastor  of  the 
Springfield  Church  endeavored  to  keep  the  church  from  going 
into  the  Old  School  fold,  Mr.  Appleby  stood  by  Mr.  Morrison,  the 
pastor.  But  when  the  war  came  on — a  champion  of  the  Union 
cause — he  refused  to  follow  Mr.  Morrison  farther.  Before  the 
Springfield  Church  had  a  house  of  worship  its  monthly  services 
were  held  at  Mr.  Appleby's  house,  and  here,  too,  the  First  Pres- 
bytery of  Osage  held  its  meeting  1851,  and  he  housed  and  fed  most 
of  the  delegates,  with  their  families,  and  provided  provender  for 
their  horses.  The  last  meeting  of  the  first  Presbytery  of  Osage 
was  held  in  Locust  Grove  school  house  near  his  home.  That  was 
in  the  spring  of  1861. 

WILLIAM  AND  JANE    (ADAMS)    ORR. 

In  the  days  when  men  were  not  afflicted  with  the  complacent 
belief  that  one  church  is  as  good  as  another,  or  lamentable  igno- 
rance of  the  distinctive  tenets  of  any  church,  this  sturdy  Scotch- 
Irish  couple  settled  in  Southwest  Missouri.  With  their  two  young 
sons  they  came  from  Ireland  to  America  in  1832,  and  after  a  five 
years  residence  in  Ohio  settled  on  a  farm  at  Salem  in  what  is  now 
Lawrence  County.  Here,  as  Mr.  Orr  often  remarked,  he  lived  in 
five  counties  without  changing  his  residence.  The  county  seat 
was  moved  from  Salem  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  the  former  dropped 
off  the  map.  On  the  farm  where  they  first  settled  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Orr  toiled  cheerfully,  endured  all  the  privations  common  to  pio- 
neers of  that  day,  reared  an  exemplary  family  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  and  amassed  a  competency  of  no  mean  propor- 
tions. Few  men  outside  of  the  ministry  were  more  familiar  with 
the  Bible  and  the  Catechism  than  Mr.  Orr.  They  united  with  the 
nearest  Presbyterian  Church, — the  Ebenezer  Church  at  Green- 
field,— and  through  the  wildness  on  horseback  for  twenty-five 
miles  they  rode  to  the  services.  Later  they  were  charter  members 
of  the  church  organized  in  Mount  Vernon,  subsequently  trans- 
ferred to  Ozark  Prairie.  "Uncle  Billy"  and  "Aunt  Jennie"  were 
always  liberal  contributors  to  that  church.     Some  of  the  charac- 


280  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX   Till    Ozarks 

acteristics  of  Mr.  Orr  are  alluded  to  id  the  sketch  of  thai  church. 
Mr.  Orr  died  in  1878  in  his  seventy-sixth  year,  Leaving  a  record 
ot*  strong  and  unceasing  devotion  to  the  church  and  an  example 
of  Loyal   citizenship  and  sterling  integrity— a   priceless  heritage 

to  his  descendants.  The  twilight  of  years  for  "Aunt  Jennie" 
was  Lengthened  until  the  14th  of  December.  1894.  For  over  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  she  had  been  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Indeed  her  memory  failed  to  go  back  to 
the  time  when  she  first  loved  the  Lord.  It  was  my  privilege  to  he 
her  pastor  the  last  years  of  her  life.  When  past  ninety  years  of 
age  she  failed  to  he  in  her  accustomed  pew  for  a  few  Sabbaths. 
When  I  called  she  said:  "I  have  not  been  at  church  as  regularly, 
as  I  might  have  gone.  If  the  Lord  spares  me  I  will  do  better." 
And  during  her  last  sickness  she  gave  this  remarkable  testimony: 
"Every  one  has  been  good  to  me;  no  one  has  wronged  me."  Some 
years  before  this  she  was  making  her  will.  One  of  the  sons  re- 
marked: "Mother,  you  have  forgotten  your  best  friend."  In 
astonishment,  she  inquired:  "What  do  you  mean?'"  He  an- 
swered: "Is  not  the  Lord  your  best  friend?"  Thereupon  she  in- 
serted a  clause  making  the  Southwest  Board  a  beneficiary  and 
$500  were  set  aside  for  the  mountain  school  work  in  Tennessee. 
She  loved  the  Lord  and  honored  him  with  her  substance  and 
service,  and  her  life  as  well  as  that  of  her  husband  and  sons  is 
a  verification  of  the  Scripture.  "There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet 
increaseth." 

JANE  STOWELL  RENSHAW. 

(Written  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  Easley.) 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  may  well  be  called  "The 
Mother  of  Ozark  Presbytery,"  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County. 
Virginia.  June  8,  1786.  She  came  of  a  long  line  of  ancestry 
through  her  father.  George  Stowell,  who  was  born  in  Belfast. 
Ireland,  brought  up  and  educated  in  London,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  quite  a  young  man.  This  was  near  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  family  tradition  says  he  was  ;i  soldier  in 
that  war.  Was  married  to  Rebecca  Walker.  The  children  born 
of  this  union  were  noted  for  their  clear  intellects  and  deep  re- 
ligious convictions.  During  the  childhood  of  -Jane  Stowell  the 
family  moved  to  Knox  County,  Tennessee,  where  she  grew  to  wo- 
manhood and  was  married  to  Moses  Renshaw  about  the  year  1805. 
Subsequently  they  moved  to  Monroe  County.  Tennessee,  where 
the  husband  and  father  died  in  the  summer  of  1826,  leaving  the 
widow  with  several  children,  one  an  infant  six  months  old. 

Cherishing  the  memory  of  her  husband's  prayers  and  godly 


JANE  RENSHAW 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  281 

example,  she  continued  faithful  in  the  moral  and  religious  in- 
struction of  her  family,  ever  relying  upon  God  for  help.  The 
family  altar  was  not  neglected  and  in  this  duty  she  was  often 
helped  by  an  older  sister,  Elizabeth  Stowell,  whose  presence  in 
the  home  was  said  to  be  a  benediction,  and  from  whose  obituary 
we  learn  that  "She  read  the  Bible  much  and  lived  in  joyous  an- 
ticipation of  the  millenium."  The  Sabbath  was  carefully  pre- 
pared for  and  strictly  observed  as  a  day  of  sacred  rest  and  serv- 
ice. To  this  atmosphere  of  religious  thought  was  added  intel- 
lectual training  as  far  as  was  possible  from  the  educational  advan- 
tages of  the  period. 

In  1837  or  1838  her  oldest  son,  J.  A.  Renshaw.  came  to  Greene 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  built  a  home  for  his  mother  and  the 
younger  members  of  the  family,  to  which  they  came  the  following 
year.  (This  location  was  about  fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Spring- 
field and  two  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Cave  Spring.)  In 
the  autumn  of  1839  Mount  Zion  Church  was  organized  in  this 
home.  It  was  composed  largely  of  members  of  her  own  house- 
hold and  has  been  officered  in  part  by  her  relatives  and  descend- 
ants from  its  inception  up  to  the  present  time.  Her  second  son. 
Rev.  G.  A.  M.  Renshaw,  was  her  pastor  for  about  fourteen  years. 

It  was  during' these  years  that  she  is  remembered  best  by 
her  grandchildren,  in  whose  homes  she  was  a  frequent  visitor. 
The  memory  of  Lavinia  (Renshaw)  Thompson  is  decidedly  clear 
concerning  this  pioneer  Christian  grandmother.  "It  was  grand- 
mas  custom,"  she  says,  "to  retire  for  her  evening  devotions  to 
some  secluded  spot.  I  often  accompanied  her,  where,  amidst  the 
shrubbery,  she  would  kneel  in  prayer,  thanking  God  for  his  mer- 
cies and  asking  for  guidance  in  his  work." 

It  was  in  her  home  that  the  first  Sabbath  school  in  the  county, 
if  not  in  the  Southwest,  was  organized  and  superintended  by  her 
son-in-law,  Robert  S.  Reid.  This  Sabbath  school  dates  as  far  back 
as  the  autumn  of  1839.  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Renshaw,  widow  of  J.  .A. 
Renshaw,  and  the  only  person  now  living  in  the  State  that  was 
present  at  the  organization  of  the  church,  says:  "The  Sabbath 
school  was  organized  soon  after  the  church.  They  met  in  the  dif- 
ferent homes,  using  'Barnes'  Notes  on  the  New  Testament.'  'Dan- 
iel' and  'Revelation'  to  aid  them  in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures. 
This  was  before  the  brush  arbor  was  built,  which  was  in  the  spring 
of  1840." 

In  1856  Mrs.  Renshaw.  though  seventy  years  of  age.  removed 
with  the  larger  part  of  her  family  to  California,  where  they  came 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Pierpont,  at  Santa  Rosar. 
Two  years  later  she  changed  her  abode  to  Eugene,  Oregon,  where 
she  resided  until  her  death  which  occurred  November  1.  1863,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.. 


282  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

She  left  behind  her  in  Missouri  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 
whose  children,  though  no1  numerous,  are  enrolled  on  the  church 
books  of  Cave  Springs,  Willard  and  Springfield,  even  to  the 
fourth  generation.  Some  are  in  other  folds,  but  it  is  a  remark- 
;i])lc  i'aci  thai  with  bul  a  few  exceptions,  the  descendants  of  this 
pious,  prayerful  women  are  members  of  the  church,  there  being 
thirty  or  more  enrolled  at  Cave  Spring.  Truly,  ''she  being  dead 
yet  speaketh." 

MR.    AND    MRS.    HENRY    SHEPPARD. 

''Henry  Sheppard,  amoung  the  early  people  of  Greene 
County,  was  the  man  who  made  and  left  the  best  impression." 
With  this  pregnant  assertion  the  history  of  Greene  County  (1883) 
begins  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Sheppard.  He  was  horn  in  New  Jersey. 
Cumberland  County,  November  8th,  1821,  and  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen began  to  support  himself.  His  business  training  was  received 
from  an  old-fashioned  Philadelphia  firm  that  inculcated  lessons 
of  frugality,  integrity,  discretion  and  industry.  These  seeds  of 
an  upright  life  flourished  in  the  soil  of  paternal  inheritance,  whilst 
his  maternal  inheritance  equipped  him  for  that  deeply  religious 
life  moulded  by  the  saintly  Dr.  Albert  Barnes,  with  whose  church 
the  young  man  united  while  in  Philadelphia.  Physically  he  was 
equipped  with  a  striking  personality — six  feet  tall,  slender,  black 
hair,  gray  eyes  and  an  abundance  of  energy.  He  received  the 
rudiments  of  an  education  in  a  common  school,  which  were  sup- 
plemented, enlarged  and  rendered  serviceable  by  his  eager  parti- 
cipation in  a  literary  society. 

In  1843  Mr.  Sheppard  went  to  Camden,  Ark.  There  he 
found  a  good  opening  for  trade,  but  the  prospects  for  a  home 
were  not  so  inviting.  The  following  year  he  came  to  Springfield 
and  went  into  business  with  Clement  Jaggard.  To  this  thriving 
hamlet  in  1845  he  brought  from  her  New  Jersey  home  his  young 
bride,  formerly  Miss  Rhoda  Nixon,  a  sister  of  Dr.  J.  Howard 
Nixon,  sketched  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

In  temperament,  tastes  and  purposes,  as  well  as  affections, 
this  was  truly  an  instance  where  "God  hath  joined"  and  which 
man  was  not  to  put  asunder.  Whether  we  contemplate  their  busi- 
ness enterprises,  or  invade  the  sacred  precincts  of  their  home, 
or  admire  their  religious  life,  activities  and  influences,  we  are 
thinking  all  the  time  of  the  plaudit'  "Well  done!  Well  done!" 
Mr.  Sheppard  developed  a  thriving  trade,  collected  droves  of 
stock  and  sent  them  as  far  distant  as  California.  Established 
temporarily  a  branch  house  in  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  take  part  in  the  Mexican  War  when  peace  was  declared. 


Presdyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  283 

In  1850  Mr.  Jaggard  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  Mr.  Sheppard 
formed  a  copartnership  with  John  S.  Kimbrough,  which  contin- 
ued until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  At  that  time  he  was 
in  possession  of  a  few  domestic  servants,  but  was  a  strong  Union 
man,  entered  the  army  and  served  in  various  grades  from  a  pri- 
vate soldier  to  brigadier  general.  "When  he  reached  the  latter 
rank  his  small  stock  of  strength  had  all  been  given  to  his  coun- 
try and  he  resigned,  never  to  enjoy  health  again.  On  the  8th  of 
January,  1863,  with  his  regiment,  he  greatly  assisted  in  repelling 
Marmaduke's  attack  on  Springfield,  which  saved  immense  stores 
of  food,  clothing  and  ammunition  to  the  United  States.  This  suc- 
cess preserved  the  fruits  of  the  war  in  Southwest  Missouri,  which 
would  otherwise  have  been  lost.  That  day's  fight  was  as  heroic 
as  Corse's  defense  of  Allatoona,  for  it  was  made  with  but  little 
shelter  of  fortifications  and  with  no  hope  of  succor."* 

"After  the  war  Col.  Sheppard  was  engaged  in  active  business 
until  1868,  when  he  retired.  Thenceforth  he  attended  to  the  light 
duties  of  a  bank  director,  and  he  managed  his  property.  His 
considerbale  earthly  accumulations  have  not  been  disintegrated 
by  posthumous  prodigality. 

Throughout  his  career  the  burdens  of  a  business  life  were 
lightened  and  mellowed  by  the  sweet  influence  of  a  happy  home. 
Here  sociability,  friendship  and  culture  of  mind  and  heart  were 
crowned.  Four  children  entered  this  home  two  of  whom  preceded 
their  father  to  the  grave.  Francis,  a  retired  officer  of  the  navy, 
and  Margaret  survive.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheppard  accumulated  a 
valuable  library  which  was  far  from  being  simply  ornamental. 
A  voracious  reader  Mr.  Sheppard  formed  an  incisive,  easy  and 
clear  literary  style.  Shakespeare,  Macaulay,  Scott,  Irwin,  Motley, 
Prescott,  Bancroft,  Thackeray  and  the  standard  poets  were  his 
mental  companions.  After  retiring  from  business  Mr.  Sheppard 
was  occupied  with  reading,  writing  and  horticulture.  The  stately 
trees  on  his  lawn  were  his  delight,  whilst  he  is  said  to  have  taken 
more  pride  in  his  success  with  fruit  than  any  thing  else. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheppard  but  newly  wed  brought  their 
earthly  effects  to  Springfield  they  refused  to  unpack  their  furni- 
ture until  they  had  evidence  that  there  would  be  a  Presbyterian 
Church  organized.  Subsequently  the  whole  Presbytery  was  now 
and  then  entertained  in  their  house.  The  delegates  to  Presbytery 
traveled  by  horseback  and  frequently  the  mistresses  of  the 
manse  rode  behind  the  dominie ;  so  that  if  it  be  asserted  that  the 
Presbytery  was  not  large,  it  must  be  remembered  that  entertain- 
ment was  ordinarily  provided  for  the  mistress  as  well  as  the  mas- 
ter— that  provender  and  shelter  were  requisite  for  the  means  of 

*History  of  Greene  County,  p.  585. 


284  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

locomotion  and  thai  the  Presbytery  lasted  over  the  Sabbath.  Mr. 
Sheppard's  exalted  ideas  as  to  the  eldership  of  the  church  kept 
him  out  of  that  position  but  he  was  a  trustee  in  the  Springfield 
Church  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  Calvary  Church. 
Evidently  on  account  of  this  trusteeship  he  refused  to  gel  a  letter 
of  transfer  to  the  new  church  until  the  old  Springfield  Church  was 
sold  to  satisfy  a  debt.  Then  he  quietly  furnished  the  money  with 
which  his  brother  bought  the  building  and  after  it  was  deeded  to 
the  trustees  of  Calvary  Church  he  became  a  member  of  the  same. 
His  benefactions  were  by  no  means  confined  to  his  church.  "He 
loved  the  poor,  none  but  himself  knew  the  extent  of  hi.s  charity, 
but  some  persons  knew  it  was  large."  The  sketch  of  his  life  in 
the  county  history — to  which  I  am  greatly  indebted — is  so  superior 
to  other  biographical  sketches  found  there  that  I  fancy  it  is  the 
product  of  the  virile  pen  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  J.  Marks,  or  Rev.  Dr. 
Douglas  Putnam.  The  closing  scenes  are  thus  delineated:  "In 
1874  he  was  attacked  with  pneumonia,  which  assumed  a  chronic 
form.  The  loss  of  a  dear  daughter  in  1875,  so  depressed  him  that 
he  was  unable  to  rally,  and  thenceforth  he  gradually  declined, 
yet  his  illness,  though  painful,  was  not  dark.  He  recovered  his 
spirits  in  a  great  degree,  he  traveled,  he  read,  he  enjoyed  the 
society  of  his  friends,  and  his  unselfish  tenderness  to  his  family 
grew  with  the  passing  years.  At  last  on  December  19,  1879,  in 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  among  his  nearest  and  dearest,  with  sun- 
shine and  flowers  about  him,  he  fearlessly — almost  gaily — went 
out  of  the  painful  prison  of  his  body  into  the  presence  of  his  long 
loved  father." 

For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  surviving  inmates 
of  his  home  have  maintained  its  reputation  for  culture,  piety 
and  unostentatious  benevolence.  Of  Mrs.  Sheppard  it  may  be 
said  as  it  was  said  of  him — (changing  tense  and  gender) — "None 
but  herself  know  the  extent  of  her  charity,  but  some  persons  know 
it  is  large."  As  to  which  was  the  moving  spirit  in  benevolence 
and  piety  during  the  thirty-four  years  of  their  marital  happiness 
I  can  not  say.  I  have  fancied  that  the  boy  and  the  girl  in  their 
New  Jersey  homes  quaffed  living  waters  from  kindred  founts. 
and  their  union  cemented  tastes  and  purposes  that  had  natural 
affinity.  Calvary  church  is  enriched  by  the  lives  and  memories  of 
such  as  these  as  well  as  by  their  benefactions.  Missions,  schools, 
and  communities  devastated  by  fire  or  flood  or  earthquake  have 
shared  their  benefactions.  And  now  that  Mrs.  Sheppard  sits 
serenely  in  the  twilight  and  awaits  the  "crossing  of  the  bar" 
it  is  a  sweet  satisfaction  to  know  that  her  daughtetr  has  been  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  the  establishment  of  a  Y.  W.  C.  A.  in 
Springfield  and  in  the  prospective  procuring  of  Bible  Women  for 
the  work  in  the  Ozarks. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  285 

WILLIAM  L.   SCROGGS. 

Forty-five  years  in  the  eldership  of  one  church  in  Southwest 
Missouri  entitles  William  L.  Scroggs  to  this  niche  in  the  hall  of 
fame.  He  was  born  in  Iredell  county.  North  Carolina,  April  3, 
1816.  He  entered  Davidson  college  with  a  view  to  preparing  for 
the  ministry  but  failing  health  led  him  to  relinquish  his  cherished 
plans.  In  quest  of  a  suitable  climate  he  moved  to  Mississippi 
where  he  taught  school.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  Arkansas 
and  married  a  daughter  of  the  manse  Jane  Erwin  (1841).  To 
this  union  was  born  one  son,  John  E.,  now  an  elder  in  the  Ebenezer 
Church.  His  first  wife  died  and  in  1846  he  married  Miss.  Caroline 
Mitchell.  In  1847  Mr.  Scroggs  and  his  family  together  with  the 
Mitchells  moved  to  Dade  county,  Missouri.  The  numerous  de- 
scendants of  both  families  are  still  represented  in  the  Ebenezer 
Church  of  which  Mr.  Scroggs  was  a  ruling  elder  for  forty-five 
years.  The  early  annals  of  the  Presbytery  reveal  the  fact  that 
he  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  frequent  commissioners  among 
the  eldership  but  that  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  eldership 
recognized  his  worth  by  assigning  him  positions  on  the  most 
important  committees  of  the  Presbytery.  For  many  years  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School  in  which  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  teachers.  During  the  trying  times  of  the  Civil  war 
when  perilous  reports  prevented  the  people  from  assembling  for 
public  services,  this  good  man  would  gather  his  children  about 
him  and  teach  the  Sabbath  School  lesson  and  hear  them  recite 
the  catechism.  One  of  these  writes:  "A  favorite  way  of  spend- 
ing Sabbath  evening,  as  we  well  remember  in  our  early  years, 
was  for  the  near  neighbors  to  gather  in  and  recite  the  catechism, 
each  in  turn,  asking  and  answering  his  own  question,  even  down 
to  the  least  child  present,  as  far  as  each  could  go,  and  it  was  a 
great  source  of  pride  to  all  when  a  new  recruit  was  added  to  those 
who  could  go  clear  through.  Some,  we  remember,Father  and 
Mother  Scroggs  among  them,  who  could  repeat  the  shorter 
catechism  in  this  way  either  forward  or  backward.  Their  faith 
was  sorely  tried  by  the  war  but  father  always  ascribed  to  a  pro- 
tecting Providence  the  fact  that,  though  ruin  and  death  were  all 
about,  yet  in  that  immediate  neighborhood  no  special  harm  befell 
any  family." 

Mr.  Scroggs  died  in  1894 — his  wife's  death  preceded  his  by 
twelve  years.  His  county  as.  well  as  his  church  had  honored 
him  with  several  positions  of  public  trust  and  these  he  fulfilled 
with  scrupulous  fidelity. 


286  Presbyterianism  jn  the  Ozarks 

MRS.  MARY   McFARLAND. 

For  efficiency  and  length  of  service.  unflagging  zeal  for  the 
advancement  of  her  church,  and  uniqueness  of  character  the  Fres- 
byterian  Church  in  Southwesl  Missouri  might  almost  say  to  Mrs. 
Mary   McFarland:     Many  daughters  have  done  virtuously,   but 

thou  excellest  them  all."  Born  near  Utica,  New  York.  December 
15,  1825,  her  parents  moved  to  Salem,  Mass..  when  she  was  three 
years  of  age  and  she  was  educated  in  the  school  founded  by  Mary 
Lyon.  Good  educational  advantages  and  native  strength  made 
her  a  young  woman  of  unusual  mental  powers.  But  this  was  not 
all.  Under  her  benign  preceptness  she  caught  the  characteristic 
Missionary  spirit  and  for  a  time  hesitated  as  to  which  was  the 
louder,  the  call  to  the  Home  or  to  the  Foreign  field.  Without 
doubt  Arkansas  was  as  far  from  New  England  then,  to  all  prac- 
tical effect,  as  China  is  now.  At  the  age  of  twenty  or  twenty-one 
she  went  to  Little  Rock  and  subsequently  moved  to  Fort  Smith 
where  she  became  governess  in  a  planter's  family.  There  she 
met  and  married  a  Home  Missionary.the  Rev.  John  McFarland. 
That  was  in  1850  or  1851.  The  young  bride  and  groom  rode  on 
horseback  to  Greenfield,  Missouri,  which  she  ever  afterwards 
called  home.  They  settled  in  a  log  house  two  miles  north  of 
Greenfield  where  she  lived  for  thirty-seven  years.  It  is  said  this 
house  is  stilT  standing.  When  her  husband  retired  from  the 
ministry  of  the  Ebenezer  Church  a  little  log  school  house  was 
erected  a  few  steps  from  his  residence  and  for  many  years  Mrs. 
McFarland  taught  the  youth  for  miles  around,  drawing  scholars 
from  surrounding  counties.  The  school  was  often  referred  to 
as  "Brush  College"  and  there  is  a  tradition  that  it  is  the  only 
school  in  Southwest  Missouri  that  survived  during  the  Civil  war. 
At  least  it  was  the  only  school  of  any  kind  in  a  large  circuit  of 
country.  When  the  soldier  boys  came  back  from  the  war  many 
of  them  dropped  sword  and  gun  and  took  up  spelling  book  and 
reader.  The  youngsters  who  had  stayed  at  home  had  outstripped 
them  by  far  in  book  learning  and  it  required  true  soldier  grit  to 
remain  in  school  and  be  "spelled  down"  by  mere  striplings. 
One  of  these  recalls  the  awe  inspired  by  the  blue  uniforms  and 
the  fact  that  discretion  required  some  of  these  soldier  students 
to  sit  in  school  with  pistols  belted  around  their  waists.  It  would 
be  hard  to  estimate  the  influence  of  this  school  on  the  community. 
Mrs.  McFarland  enjoyed  nothing-  better  than  entering  into  the 
amusements  of  her  scholars  even  when  her  hair  was  silvered  ..nd 
she  always  took  an  interest  in  their  affairs — love  affairs  not 
excepted.  She  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  af- 
fairs    of    the     church     and     was     one     of    the     few     advocates 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  287 

of  a  Woman's  PresbyteriaL  Missionary  organization  in  the 
day  when  the  ministers  were  doubtful  as  to  whether  it 
was  not  a  violation  of  scripture  for  a  woman  to  speak  in  the 
churches.  Convinced  that  such  an  organization  was  needed  she 
entered  it  with  all  the  ardor  of  her  nature  and  during  her  life- 
time no  face  was  more  familiar  in  the  annual  gatherings  than  that 
of  "Aunt  Mary  MeFarland.  "She  was  a  great  reader  and  a  verit- 
able encyclopedia  of  Missionary  information  among  the  women 
of  our  churches.  A  few  years  before  her  death  she  went  to  live 
with  her  son  Eel.  at  Webb  City,  Mo.,  but  she  always  called  Green- 
field Home.  She  died  at  the  age  of  79  years.  The  funeral  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Greenfield  and  the 
remains  were  interred  in  the  Weir  cemetery. 

PAUL  ORR. 

Not  long  ago  there  was  laid  to  rest  one  of  the  most  pictur- 
esque elders  in  the  Presbytery — Paul  Orr,  for  many  years  the 
senior  elder  in  the  Ozark  Prairie  Church.  The  son  of  William  and 
Jennie  Orr  he  inherited  among  other  traits  of  character  their  love 
for  the  sanctuary.  And  as  his  farm  home  was  hard  by  the 
country  church  house  where  he  was  wont  to  attend  whenever  its 
portals  were  opened — whether  it  was  for  a  preaching  service, 
the  monthly  Missionary  meeting,  the  Sunday  School  or  the  Young 
People's  Prayer  meeting.  For  many  years  the  "brick  church", 
as  it  was  called,  observed  the  custom  of  holding  a  Sunday  morn- 
ing prayer  meeting  on  one  of  the  two  Sabbath  morning  in  the 
month  when  the  pastor  preached  elsewhere.  The  other  Sabbath 
was  given  over  to  the  Missionary  Society.  This  custom  held  the 
congregation  together  and  gave  training  in  public  utterance  to 
its  members.  Mr.  Orr  was  one  of  those  who  did  much  to  sustain 
these  services.  He  also  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  young  people's 
work  and  was  known  by  the  young  people  far  and  wide  as  "Uncle 
Paul."  The  Bible  and  the  church  were  the  constant  themes  of 
his  conversation  and  in  my  ministry  I  have  known  but  one  other 
elder — Robert  Hall  of  the  Second  Church  of  Springfield — who  in- 
cidentally threw  out  so  many  suggestions  helpful  in  the  prepar- 
ation of  sermons.  A  voracious  reader,  possessed  of  a  retentive 
memory,  and  an  original  mind.  Uncle  Paul  brought  to  light  new 
conceptions  of  a  text  or  new  illustrations  thereon.  With  added 
years  his  eccentricities  were  accentuated. 

A  peripatetic  evangelist  who  had  married'  an  Indian  down 
in  the  Territory  objected  to  Mr.  Orr's  use  of  tobacco.  While 
a  guest  in  his  home  the  evangelist  asked:  "Mr.  Orr,  do  you  know 
what  the  first  gate  of  hell  is?"  Mr.  Orr  said:  "I  do  not  know  that 


288  PRESBYTERIANISM    IN'    THE    OZARKS 

I  do."  "It's smoking  an  old  pip*'."  said  the  evangelist.  Quick  as  a 
flash  Mr.  Orr  asked:  "Mr.  W.  do  you  know  what  tin*  second  gate 
to  hell  is.'"  Being  answered  in  the  negative  he  replied:  "It's  go- 
ing  to  the  Territory  and  marrying  a  squaw  to  gel  a  headright." 
The  fixedness  of  the  Canny  Scot  has  been  taken  for  granted  so 
long  that  it  may  seem  a  piece  of  rashness  to  call  it  in  question. 
Nevertheless  it  is  my  observation  that  Scotchmen  and  the  Scotch 
Irish  do  change.  They  may  not  be  as  amenable  to  "rhyme  or  rea- 
son" as  others  and  may  be  more  positive  in  their  convictions.  But 
if  you  will  let  them  take  their  time  they  will  change  their  opinions 
and  policies — if  not  like  others,  at  least  in  their  own  way.  Mr. 
Orr  was  no  exception  to  this  statement.  In  his  church  relations 
he  had  grace  enough  to  acquiesce  in  the  judgment  of  the  majority 
of  the  session  and  if  time  demonstrated  the  wisdom  thereof  he 
was  not  slow  to  acknowlegde  his  own  error  of  judgment.  As 
age  crept  upon  him  he  devoted  his  attention  to  by-products  of  the 
farm  rather  than  to  the  cultivation  of  the  staples.  When  small 
fruits  or  flowers  claimed  his  attention  he  sent  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth  for  rare  and  curious  seeds  and  samples  and  read  catalogiu-s 
galore,  and  the  person  who  could  give  him  information  on  the 
particular  branch  of  husbandry  on  which  he  was  for  the  time 
interested  was  regarded  by  him  as  embodying  the  quint  essence  of 
wisdom.  At  one  time  he  turned  his  attention  to  bees.  Rev.  <i. 
H.  Williamson  was  then  pastor  of  the  church,  and  knowing  Uncle 
Paul's  hobby  the  pastor  took  his  encyclopedia  and  read  all  he 
could  find  on  the  subject  of  bee  culture.  When  Mr.  Orr  began  on 
his  favorite  theme  Mr.  W.  took  the  conversation  out  of  his  mouth 
and  gave  a  disquisition  so  profound  that  Mr.  Orr  declared:  "Mr. 
Williamson  is  the  smartest  man  I  ever  saw,  he  knows  more  about 
bees  than  I  do."  In  early  manhood  Mr.  Orr  had  married  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Poage,  a  woman  whose  rare  judgment  and  sterling 
christian  character  were  a  stav  and  comfort  to  him  throughout 
life. 


BOOK  II. 


The  Cumberland  and  other 

Branches  ox  the 

Church 


APPENDIX 


2QO  Presbyterianism   in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  I. 


CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIANISM   IN   SOUTHWEST 

MISSOURI. 


THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERY. 

The  author  of  "Makers  of  Our  Republic"  somewhere  asserts 
that  scant  justice  has  been  meted  out  to  the  South  in  our  United 
States  histories  because  the  Yankee  has  written  our  histories  and 
with  characteristic  modesty  has  put  himself  in  them.  I  have  en- 
deavored to  find  some  one  to  write  this  part  of  this  volume,  who 
by  lineage  and  predilection  belonged  to  the  Cumberland  branch  of 
the  church.  Failing  in  this  I  greatly  fear  that  scant  justice  will 
be  given  to  this  branch  of  the  church.  It  was  originally  intended 
that  this  history  should  be  ready  for  publication  about  the  time 
the  union  was  consummated.  And  the  writing  of  this  part  of  the 
book  was  assigned  to  my  esteemed  friend,  Rev.  J.  T.  Bacon.  His 
multiple  duties  have  deterred  him  from  the  undertaking.  And 
no  one  else  could  be  found  to  take  his  place.  The  task  has  been 
slower  in  the  doing  than  I  anticipated.  The  time  has  passed  when 
the  volume  was  due,  so  I  enter  upon  this  unexpected  part  thereof 
hampered  by  time  and  by  an  u'nfamiliarity  with  the  scenes  and 
actors.  The  investigations  I  have  been  able  to  make  have  deep- 
ened the  conviction  that  our  united  church  inherits  the  history 
and  traditions  of  both  branches  thereof.  We  can  each  say  of  the 
other  the  history  of  their  toils  and  sacrifices  is  our  history;  the 
renown  of  their  achievements  is  our  renown ;  the  weaknesses  and 
asperities  they  would  bury  we  would  bury;  the  examples  they 
would  emulate  we  would  emulate.  Pioneer  Cumberland  Presby- 
terianism  in  Southwest  Missouri  was  much  larger  than  Pioneer 
Presbyterianism.  The  struggles  of  the  '60s  did  not  mean  to  it  just 
what  they  meant  to  the  Old  and  New  School  churches,  and  val- 
uable early  records  are  more  accessible.  Mayhap  this  circum- 
scribed sketch  will  inspire  some  son  to  the  manor  bom  to  chron- 
icle the  deeds  of  her  grandeur  and  glory. 


A.   A.  YOUNG 


W.    J.    GARRETT 


\V.    II.   RITCHEY 


DAVID   E.    GIBSON 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  291 

The  first  Cumberland  Presbytery  of  Southwest  Missouri  was 
christened  Neosho.  It  was  the  offspring  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ar- 
kansas, as  the  following-  minutes  will  show : 

State  of  Arkansas, 
Pulaski  County. 

February  15th,  A.  D.  1837. 

"On  motion  resolved  that  a  new  Presbytery  be  stricken  off 
from  Arkansas  Presbytery  to  embrace  all  that  portion  of  said  Pres- 
bytery in  the  State  of  Missori,*  to  be  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Neosho  Presbytery  and  to  be  composed  of  the  following 
members,  viz. :  Brothers  John  W.  McCord,  Greenfield  Buchanan, 
Jonathan  Blair  and  Andrew  Buchanan ;  that  Greenfield  Buchanan 
be  the  first  Moderator,  and  in  case  of  his  failure  John  W.  Mc- 
Cord, and  that  the  first  meeting  be  holden  at  the  dwelling  house 
of  Alfred  Moor,  Barry  county.  State  of  Missori,  on  the  fourth 
Tuesday  in  March  next. 

Signed  by  order  of  Synod  the  date  above  written. 

JAMES  H.  BLACK,  Mod. 
J.  A.  CONNWALL,  Clk. 

"Neosho  Presbytery  met  agreeable  to  the  above  resolution 
at  the  dwelling  house  of  Alfred  Moor  in  Barry  county,  State  of 
Missori,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in  March.  1837,  and  was  opened 
by  a  sermon  delivered  by  Brother  A.  Buchanan  from  St.  Luke, 
22nd  chapter  and  29-30th  verses.  Constituted  with  prayer.  Mem- 
bers present :  Brothers  J.  W.  McCord,  G.  Buchanan,  J.  Blair  and 
A.  Buchanan,  ministers ;  representative,  Brother  John  Williams 
from  Center  Creek  congregation.  "—Minutes,  Page  1. 

The  only  other  congregation  mentioned  in  the  min- 
utes of  this  first  session  was  the  Kickapoo  congregation,  whose 
sessional  records  were  referred  to  a  committee.  The  name  of  the 
Kickapoo  Church  was  subsequently  changed  to  Mount  Comfort, 
and  under  this  name  it  exists  to  this  day.  On  the  22nd  of  July, 
1853,  the  Clerk  of  the  session,  S.  G.  Headlee,  began  making  entries 
in  a  new  sessional  record.  The  preface  in  this  book  says:  "It 
appears  from  examination  of  the  old  church  book  of  Kickapoo 
congregation  that  there  are  so  many  omissions  in  history,  and 
there  being  so  many  names  marked  transferred  from  this  congre- 
gation to  other  congregations,  also  the  change  of  name  from 
Kickapoo  to  that  of  Mount  Comfort  congregation,  we  in  our  judg- 
ment have  thought  best,  and  by  consent  and  with  the  advice  of 
some  of  the  brethren,  have  made  out  the  list  or  amount  of  stand- 

*I  use  the  spelling  of  the  records. 


292  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

ing  members  in  our  bounds,  and  have  made  ou1  as  true  a  history 
of  the  doings  of  the  different  church  sessions  from  the  years  1838, 
1839  and  1840  up  to  the  present  time  as  far  as  practicable  and  the 
names  before  us  show." 

The  roll  of  the  church,  the  account  of  its  organization  and  the 
minutes  of  the  session  prior  to  this  date  are  transcribed  in  this 
volume,  which  closes  with  the  sessional  record  of  October  15th, 
1860.    On  the  tenth  page  begins  this  entry : 

Kickapoo  Prairie, 
Greene  County,  Mo. 

27th  July,  1835. 

"In  the  dispensation  of  God's  providence  our  lots  have  been 
cast  in  the  above-named  section  of  county,  where  we  can  associate 
together  and  worship  the  living  and  true  God  without  any  to 
molest  or  make  us  afraid.  We  wish  to  enjoy  that  privilige  and 
mutually  agreed  to  constitute  ourselves  into  a  congregation  to  be 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Kickapoo  congregation  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church. 

"First — We  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment to  be  the  word  of  God. 

"Second — We  believe  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  confes- 
sion of  faith  embraces  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religon  as 
they  are  taught  in  the  Bible,  and  we  agree  to  adopt  it  as  the  rule 
of  our  faith  and  practice. 

"Third — We  look  to  the  Arkansas  Presbytery  for  ministers, 
protection,  and  the  ordinances  of  God's  house. 

"Fourth — -We  promise  to  dwell  together  in  the  bonds  of 
Christian  affection  and  to  use  all  our  influence  either  personal  or 
relative  to  promote  the  peace  and  harmony  and  prosperity  of  our 
congregation  and  the  cause  of  God  in  general.  In  testimony 
whereof  we  hereunto  subscribe  our  several  names  on  the  day  and 
date  above  written. 

WILLIAM  DYSART. 

ANN  DYSART. 

MARY  A.  DYSART. 

ROBERT   W.   DYSART. 

MARTHA  MAXWELL. 

THOMAS  ELLESON. 

NANCY  ELLESON. 

ANN  SAY. 

HANNAH  MONTGOMERY. 

SILVY  WHITLOCK. 

WILLIAM  A.  ALLEN. 

JANE  ALLEN. 

ELIZABETH  ODOM. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  293 

THOMAS  J.  WHITLOCK. 
ELIZABETH  WHITLOCK. 
MALINA  BLAIR. 
JANE  MARTIN. 
RICHARD  WHITLOCK. 
MARGARET  WHITLOCK. 
STERLIN  ALLEN." 

After  having  satisfactory  evidences  of  the  Christian  conduct 
of  the  above-named  persons,  they  were  regularly  organized  into  a 
congregation  by  the  Rev.  Andrew  Buchanan  and  proceeded  to 
elect  William  A.  Allen,  William  Dysart  and  Thomas  J.  Whitlock 
for  their  ruling  elders. 

The  method  of  organizing  churches  by  defining  their  boun- 
daries is  so  unique  that  I  will  quote  from  the  minutes  of  this  first 
session  of  the  Presbytery : 

"Resolved,  That  there  be  a  new  congregation  stricken  off 
from  Center  Creek  congregation  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the 
New  Salem  congregation,  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  west 
boundary  line,  on  the  south  by  the  State  line,  on  the  east  by 
Brown's  line,  yet  so  as  to  include  all  the  head  waters  of  Indian 
creek,  and  on  the  north  by  the  main  divide  between  Shoal  creek 
and  Center  creek,  and  that  Brother  J.  W.  McCord  attend  to  the 
organization  of  it. 

"Resolved,  That  there  be  a  new  congregation  stricken  off 
from  Center  Creek  congregation  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 
Washburn's  Prairie  congregation,  bounded  on  the  west  by  New 
Salem  congregation,  on  the  south  by  the  State  line,  on  the  east 
by  Taney  county  and  on  the  north  by  a  line  commencing  on 
Brown's  line  in  Oliver's  prairie,  running  east  in  such  a  direction 
as  to  embrace  all  the  settlements  on  Oliver's  fork  of  Shoal  creek 
above  Oliver's  and  Flat  creek,  and  that  Brother  G.  Buchanan  at- 
tend to  the  organization  of  it." 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  confines  of  the  counties  in 
this  early  day  were  not  co-terminous  with  those  with  which  we 
are  familiar.  At  its  organization,  January  2,  1833,  Greene  county 
embraced  that  vast  parallelogram  75x100  miles  in  area  lying  in 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  State.  Barry  county  was  organized 
January  oth,  1835,  Polk  March  13th  of  the  same  year  and  Taney 
January  6th,  1837.  At  least  Barry  and  Greene  were  much  larger 
than  at  present.  The  churches  enumerated  above  were  probably 
in  the  present  confines  as  follows: 

Center  Creek — Jasper  county  (though  covering  a  larger  ex- 
tent of  territory  at  first). 


294  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

Kickapoo — Greene. 

New  Salem — Newton. 
Washburn 's  Prairie — Barry. 

The  name  of  the  Shilo  congregation  appeal's  in  the  minutes 
of  September,  1837,  with  William  A.  Allen  as  delegates.  lie  is 
probably  the  same  Allen  who  was  a  charter  elder  in  the  Kickapoo 
Church.  The  minutes  of  that  church  fail  to  mention  his  name 
after  the  organization.  According  to  the  history  of  Polk  county 
this  church  was  organized  July  15,  1837,  "By  the  election  of 
William  A.  Allen  and  J.  P.  Alsup,  elders;  Rev.  Jonathan  Blair 
being  moderator,  and  William  Allen,  clerk.  John  Puns  and  Rob- 
ert L.  Fullerton  were  ordained  ruling  elders  by  Rev.  F.  M.  John- 
son, who  became  pastor  in  charge  August  3,  1837,  and  at  the  same 
time  John  Buns  was  made  clerk."  About  1840  the  name  was 
changed  to  Pomme  de  Terre,  and  in  1885  it  was  changed  to  Pleas- 
ant Hope.  Under  this  name  the  church  continues  to  this  day.  No 
doubt  Rev.  F.  M.  Johnson,  the  first  pastor,  is  a  misprint  for  Rev. 
T.  M.  Johnston.  Such,  at  least,  is  the  name  in  the  records  of 
Presbytery  and  in  the  "Life  and  Labors  of  A.  A.  Young."'  In 
September,  1837,  the  committee  of  Presbytery  appointed  to  re- 
port on  the  state  of  religion  said,  among  other  things:  "The 
number  of  conversions,  baptisms,  etc.,  is  as  follows  since  last 
Presbytery:  Conversions,  51;  adult  baptisms,  11*;  infant  do.,  2; 
accessions,  20;  whole  number  of  communicants,  171." 

The  advanced  position  taken  by  this  Presbytery  on  the  sub- 
ject of  temperance  is  worthy  of  remark.  At  its  first  session  this 
action  was  placed  on  record : 

"Resolved  unanimously  that  this  Presbytery  believes  the 
vending  or  use  of  ardent  spirits  in  any  way  except  as  medicine  to 
be  a  heinous  sin  in  the  sight  of  God  and  exceedingly  injurious  to 
the  church.     *     *     * 

"Whereas,  In  the  opinion  of  this  Presbytery  the  vending 
or  use  of  ardent  spirits  in  any  way  except  as  medicine  is  a 
heinous  sin  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  exceedingly  injurious  to  the 
church.     Therefore 

"Resolved,  That  the  congregation  be  and  they  are  hereby 
advised  to  elect  no  man  as  ruling  elder  in  the  church  who  is 
known  to  be  either  a  vender  or  habitual  user  of  ardent  spirits.*' 

In  December,  1841,  this  action  was  taken : 

"Whereas,  It  hath  been  represented  to  this  Presbytery  that 
some  members  of  our  church  in  various  parts  of  our  bounds  do 
still  indulge  in  the  sinful  practice  of  drinking  ardent  spirits, 
whereby  great  reproach  hath  been  brought  upon  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion.    Therefore 

*]  am  not  certain  whether  this  is  11,  14  or  Hi;  figures  arc  indistinct. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  295 

"Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  church  session  be  and  they 
are  hereby  recommended  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety 
of  urging  it  upon  the  members  of  our  church  generally  the  im- 
propriety and  the  sin  of  indulging  in  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  as 
a  drink. 

''Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  members  of  this  Presby- 
tery and  they  are  hereby  required  to  preach  once  in  every  six 
months  on  the  subject  of  total  abstinence  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  and  report  to  Presbytery." 

The  clerk  was  required  to  notify  the  absent  members  of  this 
action,  and  the  ministers  were  required  to  furnish  the  church  ses- 
sions a  copy  of  the  resolutions. 

There  were  probably  no  church  buildings  at  this  time.  The 
Presbytery  met  from  time  to  time  in  dwelling  houses  and  occa- 
sionally at  camp  grounds,  and  for  a  time  alternated  between 
Barry  and  Greene  counties.  The  first  mention  of  a  church  build- 
ing is  in  the  following  terms : 

"Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet  at  New  Bethel  meeting  house, 
Dade  county,  State  of  Missouri,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April, 
1843." 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  September  27th, 
1837.  in  the  house  of  Josiah  Danforth."  the  New  Providence 
Church  was  organized  by  "striking  off"  a  congregation  from  the 
Kickapoo  congregation.  Rev.  J.  W.  McCord  was  appointed  to 
"attend  to  the  organization  of  it,"  which  he  apparently  did  dur- 
ing the  session  of  the  Presbytery. 

When,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  a  quorum  failed  to  attend 
Presbytery,  those  who  were  assembled  together  constituted  them- 
selves a  committee  and  apparently  transacted  any  business  that  it 
was  competent  for  the  Presbytery  to  transact.  The  earliest  rec- 
ords number  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  and  number  sep- 
arately the  minutes  of  the  committee,  socalled.  Thus  after  the 
headins:  of  "Minutes  of  Presbytery  No.  2"  we  find,  "Minutes  of 
Committee  No.  1." 

The  supervision  over  the  preachers  and  licentiates  was  more 
minute  than  at  the  present  time.  Thus  we  find  frequent  entries 
like  the  following : 

"Presbytery  examined  the  reports  of  Brothers  J.  W.  Mc- 
Cord, J.  Blair  and  G.  Buchanan,  and  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that 
they  have  been  industriously  engaged  in  preaching  and  in  various 
ways  striving  to  promote  the  interests  of  Christ's  kingdom  since 

last  Presbytery  so  far  as  their  circumstances    would    justify." 

#     #     # 

"Resolved,  That  each  preacher  ordained  and  licensed  be  and 
they  are  hereby  required  to  attend  all  the  camp  meetings  in  the 
bounds  of  Neosho  Presbytery.     Ordered  that  the  clerk  be,  and  he 


i' id  Presbyterianism  in  the  (  )/..\rks 

is  hereby  required  to  send   Brother  John   \V.  McCord  ;i  eopy  of 
the  above  resolution.  " 

This  last  was  the  action  of  the  "committee"  when  a  quorum 
tailed  to  appear. 

October  3,  1838,  the  statistics  of  the  Presbytery  were: 
"Seven  congregations,  55  conversions  during  the  hist  year,  1)7  ac- 
cessions. 16  adult  baptisms,  11  infant  baptisms  and  272  communi- 
cants. Of  the  number  of  communicants  4  are  ordained  preachers. 
2  licentiates  and  2  candidates."  • 

This  meeting  of  the  committee  was  held  at  Spring  River 
camp  ground,  and  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  "strike  off"  that  congregation  from  the  Cen- 
ter Creek  congregation. 

The  name  of  the  Presbytery  was  changed  to  Ozark  in  accord- 
ance with  the  following: 

"Ozark  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
(the  name  having  been  changd  by  resolution  of  Arkansas  Synod) 
met  pursuant  to  adjournment  in  Newton  county.  Missouri,  on 
Thursday  the  24th  day  of  October.  A.  D.  1839.  "—Minutes, 
Page  20. 

The  accessions  to  the  church,  the  net  increase  from  year  to 
year  and  the  number  of  young  men  who  were  offering  themselves 
as  candidates  for  the  ministry  wrere  remarkable  in  comparison 
with  the  statistics  of  either  the  Presbyterian  or  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Presbyteries  in  Southwest  Missouri,  say  during  the 
last  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century.  For  a  time  the  increase  in 
communicants  was  from  30  per  cent,  to  60  per  cent,  annually. 
True  it  is  easier  to  have  a  large  per  cent  increase  in  a  small  body 
than  in  a  large  one;  but  when  a  Presbytery  of  six  or  eight  small 
churches  shows  an  actual  accession  and  an  actual  increase  as 
large  as  a  Presbytery  of  five  times  that  many  churches  and  ten 
times  the  communicant  strength,  and  this  showing  is  repeated 
frequently  enough  to  show  that  it  is  not  abnormal,  we  must  com- 
mend the  aggressive  and  evangelistic  spirit  of  the  earlier  times. 
And  here  I  shall  insert  one  report  in  full  because  it  breathes  the 
spirit  of  the  times  and  mentions  the  obstacles  as  well  as  the  en- 
couragements :     i 

"Your  committee  on  the  state  of  religion  and  statistics  of 
the  church,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  report  that  from  the  infor- 
mation before  them  you  have  abundant  reason  to  adore  the  good- 
ness of  God  for  the  wonderful  displays  of  His  grace  in  the  salva- 
tion of  sinners.  Your  committee  rejoice  to  report  that  the  last 
Presbyterial  year  has  been  marked  with  more  signal  displays  of 
the  wonder-working  power  of  Cod  in  the  conversion  of  souls  than 

*Yet  the  actual  increase  in  communicants  was  net  as  largo  as  the  year 
before. — Ed. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  297 

any  former  year.*  The  labors  of  your  ministers  have  been 
abundantly  blessed,  and  they  have  been  standing  at  their  posts, 
zealously  contending  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
closely  adhering  to  your  excellent  standards  and  rules  of  gov- 
ernment and  striving  to  build  again  the  waste  places  of  Zion. 
But  while  they  have  administered  in  holy  things,  your  committee 
regret  to  say  their  temporal  wants  have  been  almost  entirely  neg- 
lcted  by  the  church.  Your  committee  would  recommend  deep 
humility  and  self-abasement,  both  with  preachers  and  people,  and 
pray  God  to  send  more  laborers  into  His  vineyard,  for  the  cry  is 
daily  heard  for  ministerial  labor  from  your  body.  From  the  in- 
formation before  your  committee  the  statistics  of  the  church  are 
as  follows,  viz. : 

Professions  Accessions      Congregations     Adults  Bap.      Infants  Bap.       Ord.  Mins. 

102  97  8  29  17  6 

Licentiates  Candidates  Total  Amount  of  Communicants 

2  3  317 

En  conclusion  your  committee  would  earnestly  recommend 
that  you  endeavor  speedily  to  adopt  some  efficient  means  to 
awaken  the  members  of  the  church  to  the  discharge  of  their  duty 
in  supporting  the  Gospel  and  forming  a  union  with  some  min- 
ister as  their —  [Here  a  word  is  obviously  omitted.]  Let  both 
preachers  and  people  awake  to  double  diligence  in  the  service  of 
God  and  pray  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to  continue  His  good- 
ness with  us.     All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"A.  A.  YOUNG,  Chm." 
Minutes  October,  1839. 
To  this  report  I  will  here  add  the  statistics  for  a  period  of 
years,  which  illustrate  more  fully  the  growth,  and  especially  the 
large  number  of  licentiates  and  candidates  and  infant  baptisms: 

Year  Churches     Ord.     Licen-    Candi-    Profes-     Acces-    Adults    Infants       Total 

Mins      tiates     dates        sions        sions        Bap.        Bar.  Com. 

1841  11  6  8  4  310   268   50   26    661 

1842  16  10  10  10  200   69   68    865 

1843  17  8  10  10  880 

(Spring) 

1843  17  10  9  10  211  143  48  35  1023 

(Fall) 

1845  23  9  15  10  .  143  116  45  52  1122 

1846  23  9  14         8  225  85  30  40  1400 

That  these  ministers  and  licentiates  toiled  faithfully  on  an 
utterly  inadequate  support  is  abundantly  attested.  Presbytery 
by  resolution  required  the  ministers  to  preach  annually  on  the 
support   of  the   Gospel   and   examined   the   ministers  as  to   their 


298  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

fidelity  to  this  trust.  No  subject  occupied  m  more  prominenl  place 
in  the  deliberations  of  the  Presbytery,  and  when  ;i  minister  was 
sent  mi  ;i  special  mission  to  some  circuit  he  was  frequently  en- 
joined to  present  to  the  congregation  the  claims  of  the  circuit 
rider  to  a  support.  That  the  preaching  of  an  annual  sermon  was 
not  always  ;i  perfunctory  performance  is  attested  by  the  extracts 
from  what  was  probably  one  of  these  sermons,  delivered  by  Rev. 
Valentine  Pentzer,  and  found  on  a  previous  page  of  this  book. 

The  minutes  of  April,  1840,  contain  these  items: 

"Brothers  C.  C.  Porter  and  J.  D.  Montgomery  reported  that 
they  had  complied  with  the  request  of  last  Presbytery  to  ride  as 
missionaries.  Whereas  were  made  by  the  different  congrega- 
tions to  Brothers  Porter  and  Montgomery  to  append  to  their 
pecuniary  aid  certain  sums.     On  motion. 

Resolved,  That  Brothers  Danforth  and  Witherspoon  be  a 
committee  to  confer  with  the  representatives  now  present,  receive 
the  pledges,  settle  with  the  missionaries  and  report  to  Presby- 
tery.    *     *     * 

The  committee  appointed  to  settle  with  Brothers  Porter  and 
Montgomery  report  that  the  pledges  made  at  the  last  session  of 
Presbytery  have  all  been  redeemed,  except  that  of  Kickapoo  con- 
gregation, which  we  are  assured  will  be  redeemd.  We  find  that 
with  what  they  have  received  personally,  together  with  the 
amount  of  pledges,  including  that  of  Kickapoo  (which  they  agree 
to  receive  as  cash),  amount  to  $64.62  cents  each,  making  a  total 
of  $129.25  cents  which  they  have  received  for  their  ministerial 
labors  since  last  session  of  Presbytery." 

The  historical  materials  that  have  fallen  into  my  hands  have 
revealed  the  fact  that  the  bars  between  Pioneer  Presbyterianism 
and  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri  were  not 
as  high  as  I  had  supposed  they  were.  The  correspondence  of  the 
New  School  Presbyterian  ministers  in  the  Home  Missionary,  so 
far  as  it  has  come  under  my  observation,  is  uniformly  appre- 
ciative of  the  work  of  the  Cumberland  Church.  And  this  is  the 
more  worthy  of  consideration  when  we  remember  that  this  corre- 
spondence bristles  with  criticism  of  some  of  "the  sects."  and  was 
written  for  a  denominational  organ  that  doubtless  was  seldom  or 
never  seen  by  those  commended.  Take  as  an  illustration  this 
from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Amasa  Jones,  and  contained  in  the  Home 
Missionary  September,  1845: 

"I  have  just  returned  from  a  meeting  of  our  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  brethren  .There  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  are  the 
devoted  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  are  filling  an  important 
place  in  His  church.  They  have  probably  done  as  much  for  this 
section  of  the  West  as  any  other  denomination  whatever.  They 
labor  under  many   embarrassments — enough    to    discourage    the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  299 

cold-hearted  and  lukewarm — but  notwithstanding  they  urge  their 
way  forward,  counting  all  things  loss  for  Jesus'  sake.  Many  of 
their  preachers  are  not  only  men  of  ardent  piety,  but  prepared  to 
preach  with  great  acceptance  to  any  pious  and  devoted  congre- 
gation. They  are  generally  poor,  and  besides  preaching  have  to 
sustain  their  families  by  labors  of  their  own  hands.  Under  all 
their  embarrassments,  their  labors  have  been  blest  in  the  salva- 
tion of  multitudes  of  precious  souls.  My  intercourse  with  them 
was  sweet  and  refreshing  to  my  soul.  I  cannot  but  hope  and  be- 
lieve, that  the  Lord  is  about  to  bring  His  own  dear  people  of  dif- 
ferent evangelical  denominations  nearer  together,  in  order  that 
a  more  united  effort  may  be  made  to  prevent  the  overflowing 
scourge  of  error  from  sweeping  over  the  land  and  laying  waste 
the  heritage  of  God.  The  time  is  certainly  coming  when  God's 
watchmen  will  see  eye  to  eye,  and  seek  more  earnestly  the  glory 
of  God  in  the  salvation  of  souls ;  yes,  when  the  whole  army  of  the 
redeemed  will  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  and  spread  out  one 
broad  front,  to  oppose  the  common  enemy  of  God  and  man.  Un- 
der these  circumstances,  led  forth  by  the  great  Captain  of  our 
Salvation,  the  shout  of  victory  will  soon  be  heard  from  the  East 
to  the  West,  and  from  the  North  to  the  South,  until  the  note  of 
triumph — complete  triumph — shall  reach  the  heavens  and  be  re- 
echoed back  to  earth.  'Allelujah!  for  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent 
reigneth.'  'The  fruits  of  the  Spirit  are  peace.'  Oh,  for  more  of 
these  fruits." 

Camp  meetings  were  a  prominent  feature  in  the  work  of  the 
church  and  the  ministers  were  expected  to  attend  all  of  them, 
until  in  1843  a  division  was  made  and  certain  ministers  were  as- 
signed to  certain  camp  meetings.  By  this  time  there  were  some 
eight  or  ten  of  these  camp  meeting  grounds  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery.  At  this  same  session  the  "circuits"  for  the  "circuit 
riders"  were  divided  by  metes  and  bounds.  Their  names  and  ter- 
ritory are  thus  laid  down  : 

"Division  1st — Newton  and  Barry  counties,  to  be  called 
Neosho  Circuit. 

Division  2nd — Dade  and  Jasper  counties,  to  be  called  Green- 
field Circuit. 

Division  3d — Taney  and  Ozark  counties,  to  be  called  White 
River  Circuit. 

Division    4th — Greene    and   Wright    counties,   to   be    called 
Springfield  Circuit. 

Division   5th — Polk    and  Niangua    counties,    to   be    called 
Bolivar  Circuit. 

Division  6th — Benton   and  St.   Clair  counties,  to  be  called 
Osceola  Circuit." 

Nianoua  was  the  early  name  of  Dallas  county.     At  this  date 


300  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

McDonald,  Lawrence,  Stone,   Christian,     Douglas    and    Webster 

counties  were  not  organized.  It  is  evident  the  circuits  above  in- 
cluded the  territory  of  thes:e  counties,  and  if  the  "riders"  rode 
them  well,  as  we  have  reason  to  believe  they  did,  it  is  certain  that 
they  had  plenty  of  outdoor  exercise. 

We  commend  to  twentieth  century  Presbyterianism  these  ef- 
forts to  indoctrinate  the  sessions  and  members  of  the  churches: 

"Ordered  that  the  ordained  ministers  examine  the  church 
sessions  in  the  bounds  of  their  operations  on  the  discipline  and 
government  of  our  church." — Minutes,  March  10th,  1841. 

"Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  minister  under 
the  care  of  this  Presbytery  having  the  pastoral  care  of  one  or 
more  congregations  to  examine  the  members  on  the  doctrines  of 
the  church  as  set  forth  in  the  Shorter  Catechism  at  least  twice  in 
the  year  and  report  the  same  at  each  session  of  Presbytery."— 
Minutes,  October  5,  1843. 

"Ordered  that  each  church  session  in  the  bounds  of  this 
Presbytery  undergo  an  examination  on  our  book  of  discipline 
between  this  and  the  session  of  Presbytery,  and  thai  said  examina- 
tion be  conducted  by  some  preacher  thereunto  called  by  the  ses- 
sion, and  that  they  report  the  same  by  their  next  representatives 
to  Presbytery." — Minutes,  October  6,  1846. 

In  the  first  decade  of  the  existence  of  the  Presbytery  the 
prominent  questions  before  the  body  were  ministerial  support, 
camp  meetings  and  education.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Cumber- 
land Church  owed  its  origin  to  differences  of  opinion  as  to  certain 
doctrinal  statements,  as  to  revival  methods,  and  as  to  the  educa- 
tional requirements  for  the  ministry. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Hill  (History  of  K.  C.  Pres.)  has  well  said:  "The 
various  controversies  that  have  agitated  and  split  the  Presby- 
terian bodies  of  this  country  are  well  known.  *  *  *  None  of 
the  great  dividing  questions  originated  in  Missouri;  but  unfor- 
tunately, in  all  matters  of  church  and  state  Misouri  has  been  on 
the  border  line.  Its  first  impulse  has  ever  been  to  maintain  the 
old  relations  unchanged  even  at  the  expense  of  unsatisfactory 
compromise. " 

The  Old  and  New  School  churches  in  the  State  were  ready 
and  eager  for  union  before  it  occurred.  The  so-called  Northern 
and  Southern  Synods  can  hardly  wait  for  the  union  of  the  two 
assemblies.  The  Presbyterian  and  the  Presbyterian  element, 
which  was  the  real  strength  of  the  church  in  the  Cumberland 
body,  have  come  together  in  a  harmony  beautiful  to  behold.  As 
to  whether  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  reciprocated  the  tender 
regards  expresed  behind  their  backs,  alluded  to  on  a  previous 
page.  I  cannot  say.  The  circumstances  of  their  birth  naturally 
required  them  to  give  a  reason  for  their  being,  and  the  struggle 


Presbvterianism  in  the  Ozarks  301 

for  existence  generally  calls  for  weapons  of  attack  as  well  as  de- 
fense. The  early  growth  of  the  Cumberland  Church  in  Southwest 
Missouri  was  decidedly  more  rapid  than  that  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  This  is  explained  in  part  by  the  fact  that  the  first  set- 
tlers were  largely  from  the  vicinage  of  the  birth  place  of  the 
Cumberland  Church.  The  Cumberlands  were  by  no  means  the 
only  Presbyterians  to  utilize  camp  grounds  and  itinerating  meth- 
ods ;  but  it  must  be  admitted  they  far  outstripped  the  other 
branches  of  the  family  in  utilizing  the  strength — untutored  but 
effective  in  pioneer  work — of  the  young  men  of  the  church.  The 
ordained  ministers  were  frequently  outnumbered  by  both  licen- 
tiates and  candidates.  The  present  generation  of  Presbyterians 
could  teach  their  grandfathers  two  or  three  lessons  in  adaptation. 
Meanwhile  it  might  be  remarked  that  the  element  in  the  C.  P. 
Church  that  opposed  the  union  retarded  the  recent  growth  of 
that  body  by  clinging  to  pioneer  necessities  when  pioneer  days 
had  given  place  to  modern. 

Like  most  men  I  pride  myself  on  my  judicial  temperament 
which  qualifies  me  to  look  on  both  sides  of  a  question  calmly  and 
dispassionately !  Of  the  three  causes  that  led  to  the  separation  of 
the  Cumberland  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  I  find  that  some 
of  my  warm  friends  emphasize  the  doctrinal  whilst  I  had  been 
taught  to  emphasize  the  educational  one.  It  may  be  admitted 
that  the  Presbyterian  Church  has  always  had  some  members  who 
were  hyper-Calvinists ;  that  the  nineteenth  century  dawned  on 
many  places  where  there  was  lukewarmness  and  spiritual 
lethargy,  and  that  some  were  too  slow  to  recognize  the  agency  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  awakenings  of  their  generation.  To  this 
real  lukewarmness  was  added  the  imaginary.  In  the  heat  of  con- 
troversy the  parties  misunderstood  each  other.  That  which  was 
temporary  and  probably  local  was  taken  to  be  essential,  universal 
and  permanent.  Two  generations  of  rural  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians in  Southwest  Missouri  have  thought  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  as  cold,  formal  and  largely  devoid  of  experimental  re- 
ligion. Before  the  agitation  for  union  they  dwelt  upon  the  un- 
fortunate phraseology  of  the  Unrevised  Confession  and  failed  to 
note  that  the  causes  that  led  to  the  separation  were  largely  local 
and  temporary,  and  that  the  great  body  of  the  church  moved  on 
in  its  evangelical,  missionary  and  beneficent  march.  Not  unfre,- 
quently  have  they  been  heard  to  confess:  "Before  I  saw  you  I 
thought  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  formal  and  did  not  believe 
in  conversion."  The  early  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  this  sec- 
tion may  have  heard  too  much  about  none-elect  infants  and  the 
fatalism  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  I  have  evidence  that 
some  of  their  pulpits  reverberated  with  what  I  would  call  pretty 
stiff  Calvinistic  preaching.     And  it  was  doubtless  received,  as  it 


302  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

generally  is  when  not  labelled,  with  marked  approval. 

On  the  practical  question  of  the  education  of  the  ministry,  it 
might  have  been  better  for  all  concerned  if  a  "middle  ground" 
could  have  been  found  between  the  practices  of  the  two  bodies. 
The  Cumberland  Church  had  some  men  of  strong  minds  as  well  as 
hearts  and  their  poorly  compensated  toils,  their  efforts  to  train 
the  people,  and  to  establish  facilities  for  better  education  are 
worthy  our  highest  praise.  Back  of  them  was  no  strong  mission- 
ary board  and  their  pecuniary  compensation  did  not  compare 
with  that  of  the  Presbyterian  ministers  in  this  section.  Howbeil 
this  was  due  to  the  necessities  of  the  situation  and  not  to  a  dis- 
paragement of  the  salaried  minister.  These  fathers  of  the  Cum- 
berland Church  in  Southwest  Missouri,  according  to  the  Presby- 
terial  record,  must  have  preached  more  on  the  duty  of  supporting 
the  ministry,  and  must  have  said  a  great  deal  more  about  it  in 
their  Presbyterial  meetings,  than  did  the  Presbyterians.  Instead  of 
boasting  over  the  fact  that  they  toiled  for  far  less  remuneration 
than  some  others  received,  these  pioneer  ministers  and  elders  in 
Presbytery  assembled  bemoaned  the  fact  that  the  people  were  not 
aroused  to  their  duty  and  privilege  in  supporting  the  gospel  ade- 
quately. Nor  is  there  any  evidence  in  the  records  of  what  may  be 
termed  the  pride  of  ignorance.  The  hills  of  Southwest  Missouri 
have  reverberated  sometimes  with  sneers  at  salaried  and  college- 
bred  ministers.  But  these  fathers  of  the  Cumberland  Church  were 
not  afraid  of  salaries  or  colleges.  The  early  records  are  unusually 
full  of  the  reports  of  committees  on  the  examination  of  candi- 
dates and  licentiates.  These  reports  reveal  the  facts  that  most  of 
the  candidates  and  licentiates  were  more  proficient  in  "divinity" 
than  in  English  grammar  and  kindred  branches,  and  that  there 
was  an  urgent  demand  for  better  educational  facilities  for  these 
candidates  and  licentiates  as  well  as  for  the  young  in  general. 

In  the  minutes  of  October  5,  1843,  is  this  entry : 

"Ozark  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
feeling  the  great  importance  of  education  for  our  rising  genera- 
tion ;  and  knowing  that  there  is  not  an  academy  in  all  this  south- 
western portion  of  our  State  in  which  anything  like  a  liberal  edu- 
cation can  be  obtained;  and  deeply  deploring  the  fact  that  our 
young  men  who  feel  thmselves  called  of  God  to  preach  cannot  get 
an  opportunity  to  acquire  those  branches  of  even  an  English  edu- 
cation which  are  so  indispensable  to  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and 
anxiously  wishing  to  see  the  children  of  our  own  portion  of  the 
State  growing  up  in  wisdom  and  virtue,  resolve  to  do  what  God 
in  His  Providence  may  enable  us  to  do  for  the  formation  of  this 
laudable  object  by  establishing  a  permanent  school. 

"And  for  this  purpose  do  hereby  appoint  Josiah  F.  Danforth 
of  Greene  county.  William  Keer  of  Barry  county,  Matthew  H. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  303 

Ritchey  of  Newton  county,  Samuel  Weir  of  Dade  county,  and 
James  White  of  Polk  county,  to  be  a  board  of  commissioners  (any 
three  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum  to  transact  business)  to  select  a 
suitable  and  eligible  situation  for  the  location  of  an  academy; 
who  shall  meet  at  Sarcoxie  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  November, 
and  in  case  they  fail  to  meet  on  that  day,  they  shall  meet  on  such 
day  as  they  may  agree  upon  as  soon  thereafter  as  practicable  and, 
organizing,  proceed  to  the  discharge  of  their  duty.  Said  commis- 
sioners shall  have  due  regard  to  health,  society  and  offers  of  dona- 
tions, and  make  said  location  at  Sarcoxie,  Greenfield,  Bolivar, 
Springfield  or  in  the  territory  within  these  points.  Said  commis- 
sioners shall  solicit  donations  for  said  institution  and  may  adjourn 
from  time  to  time  and  receive  and  consider  proposals  that  may  be 
made  and  report  to  the  next  stated  session  of  Ozark  Presbytery. 
The  academy  when  located  shall  be  the  property  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  under  care  of  the  Ozark  Presbytery." 

Then  follows  an  order  for  the  appointment  of  trustees  and  in- 
structons  as  to  their  duties. 

The  commissioners  thus  appointed  failed  to  locate  the  acad- 
emy, but  April  3,  1844,  the  Presbytery  accepted  the  tender  of 
grounds  and  buildings  and  located  the  institution  at  Oakland 
meeting  house  in  Dade  county.  This  locality  is  now  included  in 
Lawrence  county  and  was  a  few  miles  north  of  Bower's  Mill. 

The  board  of  trustees  elected  by  the  Presbytery  consisted  of 
Thomas  Keer,  H.  T.  McCuile,  William  Parish,  A.  A.  Young,  Sam 
Weir,  Josiah  Boyd  and  M.  H.  Ritchey.  This  board  was  empowered 
to  name  the  institution,  fix  the  price  of  tuition,  arrange  for  the 
opening  of  the  school  and  employ  a  teacher,  who  "shall  be  a  good 
English  scholar."  The  trustees  named  the  school  Spring  River 
Academy.  The  community  contributed  enough  to  erect  a  suitable 
building,  Rev.  T.  M.  Johnston  was  appointed  a  general  agent  to 
solicit  funds  for  the  farther  interests  of  the  school  and  commis- 
sioners to  the  General  Assembly  in  April,  1845,  were  instructed 
"to  use  all  necessary  means  to  procure  the  services  of  a  person 
who  is  cpialified  to  take  charge  of  the  department  of  Theology  and 
Ancient  Languages."  In  April,  1846,  the  Presbyterial  committee 
reported  that  the  institution  was  closing  its  third  term  with  flat- 
tering prospects,  that  the  building  was  about  completed  and  that 
"the  institution,  we  learn,  is  entirely  untrammeled,  owing  noth- 
ing and  having  no  funds  on  hand." 

This  school  accepted  by  the  Presbytery  was  founded  by  Har- 
vey T.  McCune  and  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Keer.  They  both 
came  from  Pike  county  in  1840.  Mr.  Keer  employed  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  minister  to  teach  in  one  room  of  his  home.  As 
their  means  increased  they  built  the  Academy.  The  front  of  the 
building  was  made  of  brick  and  the  west  end  was  frame  and  was 


}<>-{■  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE    (  )/.ARKS 

used  as  a  department  for  boys.  The  library  was  in  the  center  of 
the  building.  The  ruins  of  lliis  building  are  still  standing.  The 
boarding  department  was  conducted  at  first  by  Dr.  Bingham!  In 
the  spring  of  1848  Rev.  W.  II.  Duff  took  charge  of  this  depart- 
ment and,  having  no  rent  to  pay,  boarded  pupils  a1  50  cents  each 
per  week.  McDonald's  history  says:  "Spring  River  Academy 
was  doubtless  the  first  high  school  ever  opened  in  Southwestern 
Missouri.  It  was  founded  by  Ozark  Presbytery  and  went  into 
operation  under  the  superintendency  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Logan  in  No- 
vember, 1844."     (P.  563). 

In  the  autumn  of  1846  Rev.  Robert  McGee  King,  of  Cincinnati. 
Ohio,  became  president.  His  wife,  Amelia  Judd  King,  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  girl's  department.  The  first  year  of  their  incumbency 
about  fifty  pupils  were  enrolled.  The  report  for  this  year,  made 
to  the  Presbytery  April,  1847.  indicates  that  the  State  Legislature 
had  granted  the  institution  a  charter,  that  Josiah  F.  Danforth  had 
contributed  "valuable  philosophical  and  astronomical  instru- 
ments," and  that  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Logan  and 
President  King  a  library  of  about  130  volumes  had  been  secured. 
The  Oakland  congregation  had  constituted  itself  an  educational 
society  and  the  trustees  requested  that  the  other  churches  take 
similar  action.  The  next  year  sixty-eight  pupils  were  enrolled, 
the  library  was  increased  and  the  prospects  were  inviting. 

This  condition  of  affairs  prevailed  a  few  years.  The  report 
in  the  spring  of  1852  stated  that  the  president  resigned  at  the 
close  of  the  last  term.  About  this  time  an  institution  sprang  up 
at  Greenfield.  For  several  years  the  Presbytery  attempted  either 
to  merge  the  two  or  to  transfer  the  equipment  of  the  Spring  River 
Academy  to  the  Greenfield  school.  This  was  probably  done, 
though  as  late  as  1855  the  former  institution  had  a  nominal  ex- 
istence, as  seen  by  this  entry  of  April  30,  1855 : 

"On  motion  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  Ozark  Presby- 
tery will  for  the  present  take  no  further  action  relative  to  the 
property  of  Spring  River  Academy,  hereby  repealing  all  resolu- 
tions requesting  or  ordering  the  hoard  of  trustees  to  do  or  act  in 
relation  to  the  same,  also  requesting  the  Oakland  congregation  to 
use  and  take  care  of  said  property  until  the  Presbytery  shall 
otherwise  order." 

Thus  passed  the  first  of  similar  institutions  in  Southwest 
Missouri  of  large  promises  and  restricted  though  valuable  fulfill- 
ments. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


305 


CHAPTER  II. 


AMICABLE   DIVISIONS— INCIDENT   TO  ENLARGEMENT. 


On  the  5th  of  October,  1846,  it  was  "Resolved,  That  the 
Presbytery  do  hereby  petition  the  Arkansas  Synod  to  divide  the 
same  according-  to  the  following  designated  lines,  viz. :  Com- 
mencing at  the  State  line  dividing  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  where 
Barry  and  Taney  counties  corner  on  State  line ;  thence  running- 
north  with  the  line  dividing  said  counties,  yet  so  as  to  leave  Crane 
Creek  congregation  west  of  said  line :  continuing  due  north  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  Dade  county ;  thence  due  west  to  *Sock  river ; 
thence  with  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to  its  mouth."  This 
petition  was  granted  and  that  portion  of  the  Presbytery  lying  east 
and  north  of  said  line  was  erected  into  a  new  Presbytery,  desig- 
nated the  Presbytery  of  Springfield.  The  relative  strength  of  the 
two  Presbyteries  is  suggested  by  the  statistical  reports  given  at 
the  spring  meetings,  April,  1847 : 

Minis-    Licen-  Candi-  Con-      Communi- 
ters       tiates    dates  grega         cants 
tions 

Springfield  Pres 3  9  4  13  472  in  8  congregations 

Ozark  Pres 7  6  3  9  429 

Undivided  Pres.,  Fall 

1846  9  14  8  23  1400 

It  is  expressly  stated  that  only  eight  of  the  thirteen  congre- 
gations in  the  Springfield  Presbytery  reported  at  this  first  meeting, 
and  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  report  of  the  Ozark  Presbytery 
is  also  incomplete.  This  would  account  for  the  falling  off  in  mem- 
bership. 

OZARK  PRESBYTERY. 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  at  its  first  session  after  the  division 
of  its  territory  recognized  the  transition  that  was  all  but  effected 

*This  is  the  orthography  of  the  resolution. — E.  L.  S. 


306  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

in  the  attitude  of  the  church  toward  the  pastoral  office.  Dr.  Mc- 
Donald is  authority  for  the  assertions  thai  conditions  in  new  set- 
tlements gave  rise  to  loose  views  about  the  pastoral  office,  and  pas- 
toral salaries;  that  the  opposition  to  the  pastoral  office  reached  its 
zenith  in  1830;  that  by  1836  the  church  went  on  record  in  an  un- 
equivocal declaration  in  favor  of  the  pastoral  office;  but  that  as 
late  as  1849  in  the  largest  Synod  in  the  church  there  was  still  un- 
compromising opposition  to  the  pastorate.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  in  this  Presbytery  the  virtual  fathers  of  the  church — them- 
selves men  of  evangelistic  fervor — were  among  the  first  installed 
pastors.  The  Presbytery  arranged  to  install  Rev.  A.  A.  Young 
pastor  of  Spring  River  congregation  (one-half  time),  May  1.  1847 ; 
Rev.  R.  M.  King,  pastor  of  Oakland  congregation  (one-half  time), 
May  8th,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Montgomery,  pastor  of  Greenfield  congre- 
gation, May  15th. 

In  April,  1848,  the  statistical  report  was  as  follows: 

"Ordained  ministers,  6  ;  licentiates,  7  ;  congregations,  12  ;  mem- 
bers as  follows:  Cedar  (congregation),  87:  Greenfield,  50:  Oak- 
land. 38;  Center  Creek,  62;  Shoal  Creek.  50;  New  Salem,  30;  Shi- 
loh,  16;  Washburn's  Prairie,  96;  Mount  Vernon,  48;  Spring  River. 
51;  Crane  Creek.  7;  Pennsylvania,  15;  total,  500.  Professions.  9; 
accessions,  12;  infant  baptisms.  2;  adult  baptisms,  16;  excommuni- 
cation, 1." 

From  this  report  it  will  be  seen  that  the  progress  of  the 
Presbytery  was  at  a  low  ebb — a  condition  that  lasted  for  several 
years.  Two  years  later  the  report  stated  that  "clouds  and  gloom 
seem  to  hover  over  the  moral  horizon."  The  statistics  were  :  "Or- 
dained ministers,  8 ;  licentiates,  6 ;  candidates.  3 ;  congregations, 
11;  accessions.  8;  dismissions,  14;  adult  baptisms,  4;  infant.  2; 
suspensions,  1;  deaths,  1;  whole  number  of  communicants,  492." 

No  doubt  these  ministers  and  licentiates  were  compelled  at  this 
time  to  devote  most  of  their  attention  to  secular  employments,  for 
the  report  of  this  same  year  includes  this  significant  statement : 
"Your  committee  deeply  regret  that  their  ministerial  reports  show 
that  they  have  been  poorly  sustained.  The  whole  amount  received 
by  both  licensed  and  ordained  ministers  for  six  months  would 
scarcely  have  sustained  one  moderately  sized  family." 

The  subject  of  baptism  seems  to  have  received  little  attention 
at  the  time  of  the  planting  of  the  church  in  this  country.  Min- 
isters were  apparently  indifferent  as  to  what  mode  the  applicant 
preferred.  The  beginnings  of  a  change  are  marked  in  this  entry 
made  in  the  minutes  of  April,  1851 : 

"On  motion  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
passed : 

"Whereas,  There  is  a  doctrine  inculcated  in  this  country  in 
relation  to  water  baptism  that  is  calculated  to  mislead  and  eter- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  307 

nally  ruin  thousands,  the  Presbytery  is  of  opinion  that  all  Chris- 
tians should  unite  in  invoking  the  interposition  of  God  to  overrule 
the  damning  error  for  His  glory  and  the  good  of  mankind.  The 
Presbytery  is  further  of  the  opinion  that  this  a  time  that  calls  for 
united  and  energetic  action  upon  the  part  of  the  friends  of  truth. 

"First — Therefore  be  it  resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
each  ordained  minister  in  the  bounds  of  his  operations  to  explain 
the  scriptural  mode,  nature  and  design  of  water  baptism. 

"Second — Be  it  further  resolved,  That  immersion  is  unneces- 
sary to  constitute  a  valid  baptism,  and  that  baptism  is  rightly  per- 
formed by  pouring  or  sprinkling.  Therefore  no  minister  shall  im- 
merse until  he  shall  have  explained  baptism  to  the  applicant." 

These  drastic  resolutions  appear  to  have  had  little  effect— or 
at  least  only  a  temporary  effect — on  the  practices  of  the  church. 
Some  years  after  the  civil  war  the  church  in  Southwest  Missouri 
was  aroused  on  this  subject  by  veritable  Anakim.  The  biographer 
of  Rev.  A.  A.  Young  says:  "In  the  year  1875  Rev.  G.  W.  Browne 
*  *  *  moved  into  the  bounds  of  Ozark  Presbytery.  It  was  cus- 
tomary, with  a  few  exceptions  in  this  Presbytery,  for  the  min- 
isters to  allow  the  applicant  for  church  membership  to  choose  the 
mode  of  baptism,  and  the  minister  would  comply  with  the  request 
of  the  person  applying  for  membership,  baptizing  them  after  the 
mode  taught  by  the  person  who  was  to  be  baptized,  thus  changing 
the  great  commission — instead  of  the  minister  going  and  teaching 
the  people,  and  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost,  the  minister  would  go  and  be  taught  by  the  people, 
and  then  after  the  people  would  tell  him  what  to  do,  he  would  obey 
them,  and  baptize  them  according  to  their  instructions.  This  had 
been  the  custom  with  Mr.  Young  in  all  his  work,  and  I  want  to 
publish  to  the  world,  through  this  book,  that  he  entirely  renounced 

immersion  as  a  mode  of  baptism.    In  his  trouble  with  Mr. , 

he  told  the  writer  that  he  was  sorry  that  he  had  ever  immersed, 
because  it  was  causing  more  trouble  than  anything  else  in  the 
church." 

The  writer  then  tells  of  a  series  of  lectures  which  Mr.  Browne 
delivered  at  Aurora  on  the  "Design  and  Mode  of  Baptism."  Mr. 
Young  had  expressed  the  opinion  that  these  lectures  would  do  no 
good.  Nevertheless  the  pastor,  Rev.  A.  L.  Dunlap,  induced  the 
church  to  secure  the  services  of  Mr.  Browne,  and  the  lectures  were 
delivered  in  July,  1878.  At  the  conclusion  of  these  lectures  Mr. 
Young  said  in  conversation  with  Messrs.  Dunlap,  Rinker  and 
others:  "This  is  the  best  time  I  ever  saw  in  the  town  of  Aurora 
to  hold  a  revival  meeting.  I  feel  greatly  revived.  I  have  been  a 
student  of  the  Bible  for  many  years,  but  I  must  confess  that 
Brother  Browne  has  developed  more  light  and  found  more  Scrip- 
tures on  the  subject  of  baptism  than  I  thought  was  in  the  Bible/' 


308  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

Th is  incident  is  inserted  here  as  an  illustration  of  the  way  in 
which  the  practices  of  the  Cumberland  Church  in  this  section  were 
gradually  conformed  to  that  of  other  branches  of  IVesbyterianism. 

On  the  11th  of  October.  1851,  it  was  "Resolved,  Thai  this 
Presbytery  petition  Arkansas  Synod,  and  they  do  hereby  petition 
thai  body  to  divide  Ozark  Presbytery  by  a  line  beginning  where 
the  State  line  crosses  Spring  river  on  the  wesl  and  running  with 
said  river  to  its  source  and  thence  in  a  direct  line  easl  to  the 
boundary  of  Springfield  Presbytery,  ye1  so  as  to  include  all  the 
members  of  Spring  River.  Mount  Vernon  and  Oakland  congrega- 
tions in  the  northern  division,  and  thai  portion  thus  stricken  off 
to  be  organized  into  a  new  Presbytery  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 
Neosho  Presbytery,  embracing  all  the  ministers,  congregations  and 
members  thus  separated." 

This  division  was  made  with  a  view  to  the  organization  of  a 
new  Synod.  In  1852  the  Assembly's  committee  on  overtures  pre- 
sented the  following,  which  was  adopted: 

"Your  committee  would  report  that  they  have  had  under  con- 
sideration a  petition  from  Arkansas  Synod,  praying  this  body  to 
constitute  a  new  Synod  out  of  that  part  of  her  territory  lying  in 
Missouri,  composed  of  Neosho,  Ozark  and  Springfield  Presbyteries, 
and  that  its  first  session  be  held  at  Pleasant  Retreat  Academy.  Polk 
county,  Missouri,  commencing  on  the  third  Thursday  in  October. 
1852.  and  that  A.  A.  Young  be  the  first  moderator,  and  in  case  of 
his  failure  T.  M.  Johnston  preside.  Your  committee  would  also 
recommend  that  the  name  of  the  new  Synod  be  called  Ozark." 

Th  statistics  of  Ozark  Presbytery  for  April,  1852,  are  6  min- 
isters, 3  licentiates,  2  candidates  and  "5  congregations  entitled  to 
representation."  What  this  last  clause  means  I  am  at  a  loss  to 
state,  for  communicants  are  reported  in  seven  churches,  as  follows: 
Mount  Vernon,  80;  Oakland,  41;  Cedar,  96;  Spring-  River,  64; 
Greeenfield,  135;  Dry  Wood.  15;  Clear  Creek,  10;  total,  441. 

Of  the  pioneer  churches  Center  Creek,  Washburn  Prairie  and 
New  Salem  evidently  fell  to  the  new  Presbytery.  The  name  of  the 
latter  had  been  changed  to  Neosho.  The  new  Presbytery  never 
gained  much  strength  prior  to  the  civil  war.  In  1856  Ozark 
Presbytery  "loaned"  Mr.  Young — to  use  his  own  language — to 
Neosho  Presbytery  evidently  in  order  that  that  Presbytery  mighl 
retain  a  quorum,  and  whilst  Ozark  Presbytery  reported  1.026  com- 
municants in  1860  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  reported  but  307  in 
1859,  the  last  report  available. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  transfer  of  the  educational  in- 
terests of  the  Presbytery  to  Greenfield.  On  the  2d  of  April,  1852. 
the  Presbytery  resolved  to  found  a  literary  institution  in  said  town, 
and  a  committee  consisting  of  J.  D.  Montgomery,  A.  A.  Young.  11. 
I'.  Lacy  and  -I.  Williams  purchased  a  building  and  grounds  from 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  309 

"the  Educational  Company  and  Masonic  Fraternity  of  the  town  of 
Greenfield."  In  the  fall  of  1852  the  institution  was  opened  under 
favorable  auspices  with  Rev.  Robert  Water's  as  principal  of  the 
male  department  and  Miss  E.  F.  Sproule  principal  of  the  female 
department.  Subsequently  we  find  a  Mr.  Hardy  in  charge  of  the 
school  and  an  enrollment  of  90  pupils.  But  the  Presbytery  failed 
to  liquidate  the  debt  hanging  over  the  institution  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1857,  the  board  of  trustees  were  authorized  to  convey  the  in- 
terests of  Presbytery  in  the  institution  to  "the  Educational  Com- 
pany. ' ' 

At  length  the  tide  of  religious  interest,  which  had  been  at  a 
low  ebb  for  half  a  decade  or  more,  began  to  turn.  In  September, 
1853,  the  committee  on  the  state  of  religion  declared:  "Your  min- 
isters are  generally  engaged  in  presenting  and  enforcing  the 
simple  story  of  the  cross.  One  thing  is  lacking  yet  to  make  their 
labors  efficient  as  instrumantalities.  in  the  hand  of  God  to  the 
triumph  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  is  that  they  be  cut  loose  from  the 
cares  and  anxieties  of  the  world,  or  in  other  words,  the  wants  of 
their  families  supplied  by  the  church  that  they  might  devote  their 
time,  talents  and  energies  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  The  church 
is,  however,  coming  up  to  her  duty  more  fully  than  she  has  done 
in  preceding  years." 

The  next  spring  the  report  said :  ' '  The  great  Head  of  the 
church  is  still  with  His  people  by  His  spiritual  presence  in  con- 
verting sinners  and  comforting  His  people.  Your  ministers  are 
generally  engaged  in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  perishing  multi- 
tudes. Your  committee  would  respectfully  urge  the  importance 
and  necessity  of  your  churches  adopting  a  more  efficient  system 
of  operations  by  which  your  ministers  could  be  liberated  from 
secular  engagements  and  be  wholly  devoted  to  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  The  Bible  has  ordained  that  they  which  preach  the  Gospel 
should  live  of  the  Gospel.  There  is  no  duty  in  the  Bible  more  plain 
than  the  support  of  the  Gospel,  which  duty  cannot  be  too  prom- 
inently enjoined  upon  this  Presbytery." 

These  earnest  words  doubtless  had  their  effect.  The  tide 
flowed  in.  In  September,  1859,  this  jubilant  note  was  sounded: 
"All  our  hearts  as  a  Presbytery  should  be  truly  humbled  as  well 
as  rejoiced  to  know  that  the  good  Lord  has  been  with  us,  more 
powerfully  awakening  sinners  to  behold  the  dire  consequences  of 
sin  and  bringing  them  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus  than  in  any  previous  year  in  the  history  of  our  Presbytery, 
as  may  "be  seen  by  the  statistics.  Truly  this  is  a  great  age  in  which 
to  live.  We  have  only  to  look  to  the  North,  South,  East  or  West 
to  behold  the  wonder-working  power  of  God  upon  the  hearts  of 
the  great  mass  of  the  people.  The  signs  of  the  times  speak  a  lan- 
guage that  cannot  be  misunderstood." 


}io  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

"Man  proposes,  bu1  God  disposes." 

The  spring  minutes  of  L861  make  no  allusion  to  the  impending 
carnage  of  blood.  At  is  was  in  the  days  of  Noah  and  shall  he  at 
the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man.  so  the  Presbytery  pursued  the  even 

tenor  of  its  way  apparently  regardless  of  on-coming  desolation. 
There  was  the  usual    arrangements  for    sacramental    and    camp 

meetings,  the  examinations  of  candidates,  the  enrollment  of  new 
churches  and  the  adjournment  to  meet  in  Marionville  "at  candle 
lighting"  Thursday  evening  before  the  fourth  Sabbath  in  Septem- 
ber. But  the  candles  if  lighted  must  have  burned  out  in  their 
sockets !  The  next  page  opens:  "In  pursuance  of  a  memorial  sent 
up  by  Springfield  Presbytery  the  Missouri  Synod  reconstructed 
the  Ozark  Presbytery,  appointing  Rev.  J.  D.  Montgomery  the  first 
moderator,  and  fixing  the  time  and  place  for  the  first  meeting. 
Pursuant  to  said  action  of  Synod  the  Ozark  Presbytery  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbvteriari  Church  met  at  New  Hope  Church,  Dade 
county.  .Missouri.  March  16.  1871."  The  last  statistics  (fall  1860) 
give  the  Presbytery  a  communicant  membership  of  1,104,  with 
eleven  ministers,  five  licentiates  and  four  candidates.  And  one  of 
the  last  acts  of  this  ante-bellum  Presbytery  was  to  pass  this  resolu- 
tion: 

"Resolved,  That  all  the  funds  now  on  hand  and  that  may  be 
collected  between  this  and  the  next  meeting  of  Ozark  Synod  not 
otherwise  appropriated  be  applied  to  the  Springfield  mission,  and 
that  Brothers  King,  Ames  (probably  Amos),  J.  D.  Montgomery 
and  Garrett  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  to  visit  the  several 
congregations  in  their  respective  bounds  and  solicit  funds  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Springfield  mission." 

As  far  back  as  1848  the  Presbytery  had  commended  the  St. 
Louis  mission  to  its  churches,  and  prior  to  that  had  sent  a  mis- 
sionary to  Texas. »  let  not  Jerushun  wax  fat  and  kick.  St.  Louis 
and  Springfield  are  but  returning  what  they  borrowed. 

The  reference  to  Ozark  Synod  is  a  reminder  that  this  organ- 
ization had  a  chequered  career.  Its  earliest  records  appear  to  be 
lost.  Its  stated  clerk,  on  the  fiy  leaf  of  the  first  volume  in  ex- 
istence, has  placed  the  date  of  its  organization  about  fifteen  years 
too  early.  The  Ozark  Presbytery  in  the  spring  of  1860  memorial- 
ized the  General  Assembly  to  reorganize  Ozark  Synod.  A  year 
later  the  Synod  appears  to  be  in  existence,  and  then  at  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  Presbytery  (1871)  allegiance  is  owned  to  Mis- 
souri Synod. 

SPRINGFIELD  PRESBYTERY. 

The  Springfield  Presbytery  was  organized  the  first  Friday  in 
April,  1847,  in  the  Pomme  de  Terre  meeting  house.    The  members 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  311 

present  at  the  organization  were:  Revs.  Robert  D.  Smith,  Jona- 
than Carthel  and  Thomas  M.  Johnston ;  Elders  Josiah  Danf orth  of 
New  Providence  Church,  Samuel  Headlee  of  Kickapoo,  John  P. 
Alsup  of  Pomme  de  Terre,  James  A.  White  of  Spring  Creek, 
Samuel  W.  Barnes  of  Dry  Glaze,  Josiah  Rippe  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
and  Allen  Edmonson  of  Bethel,  with  Licentiates  Samuel  Dillard, 
John  Dillard  and  Levi  P.  McAdow  and  Candidate  James  P.  Baker. 
The  absentees  were  five  licentiates  and  three  candidates.  Churches 
not  represented:  Springfield,  Cumberland  Union,  Osage  and 
Pleasant  Prairie.  Rev.  R.  D.  Smith,  the  convener,  was  continued 
as  moderator,  and  Rev.  T.  M.  Johnston  was  elected  clerk,  a  posi- 
tion he  held  until  his  dismissal  from  the  Presbytery  in  March, 
1849,  at  which  time  he  was  characterized  as  "The  father  (in 
Christ)  of  this  Presbytery."  The  Osceola  Church  was  enrolled  at 
this  first  session  of  the  Presbytery,  and  this  probably  marked  the 
northern  limits  of  the  Presbytery,  whilst  on  the  east  and  north- 
east work  was  vigorously  pushed  in  Wright,  Laclede  and  Dallas 
counties.  The  Macedonian  cry  from  Taney  county  was  heard 
and  heeded,  and  the  "preserve"  of  the  New  School  Church  at 
North  Prairie,  in  Hickory  county,  was  invaded. 

In  October,  1848,  the  Presbytery  was  divided  into  three  cir- 
cuits, viz :  ' '  Springfield  Circuit,  embracing  Greene  county  and  the 
congregations  within  the  same;  Osceola  Circuit,  to  embrace  Os- 
ceola, Spring  Creek,  Osage  and  Pomme  de  Terre  congregations 
and  the  intermediate  country;  the  Buffalo  Circuit  included  the 
town  of  Buffalo,  Dry  Glaze  congregation  and  the  Osage  fork  of 
Gasconade  river  so  high  up  as  to  embrace  Colonel  Burnett's 
neighborhood."  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that,  like  the  New  School 
Church,  the  Cumberland  Church  occupied  territory  before  the 
war  long  since  abandoned. 

Traditions  oral  and  written  have  left  the  impression  that  the 
ministries  of  a  number  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  Southwest  Mis- 
souri were  attended  with  continuous  revival  fires.  The  records  of 
Springfield  and  Ozark  Presbyteries  do  not  confirm  these  tradi- 
tions. For  the  first  decade  the  growth  of  the  church  was  indeed 
phenomenal.  For  the  second  decade,  1847-1857,  the  conversions 
and  accessions  to  the  churches  were  not  large — some  years  were 
painfully  small.  The  spiritual  dearth  began  earlier  in  the  Ozark 
Presbytery  than  in  the  Springfield  Presbytery,  but  in  the  latter 
year  after  year  the  report  of  the  committee  on  religion  asserted 
that  religion  was  "at  a  low  ebb"  or  "not  so  flourishing  as  form- 
erly." That  these  reports  were  not  altogether  the  reflections  of 
the  pessimistic  tendencies  of  their  authors  is  evidenced  by  the 
statistical  reports. 

The  method  of  gathering  statistics  was  so  imperfect  that  it  is 
difficult  to  arrive  at  accurate  conclusions.     Some  years  not  more 


312  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

than  half  of  the  churches  reported.  In  March,  1849,  there  were 
757  according  to  the  reports.  This  is  the  largest  number  I  find  re- 
ported prior  to  the  war.  In  the  spring  of  1861  the  report  gave  the 
number  as  602,  and  there  are  indications  that  this  is  comparative- 
ly accurate. 

Frequent  allusions  are  made  in  the  records  to  the  Pleasant 
Retreat  Academy,  in  Polk  county,  but  there  are  no  intimations 
that  the  Presbytery  sustained  as  close  relations  to  this  institution 
as  did  the  Ozark  Presbytery  to  the  Spring  River  and  Greenfield 
academies. 

The  cause  of  missions  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  semi- 
annual deliberations  of  the  Presbytery.  The  Presbytery  regularly 
resolved  itself  into  a  missionary  society  and  listened  to  a  sermon 
on  missions,  urged  its  ministers  to  preach  on  the  subject,  looked 
with  great  favor  on  the  Springfield  mission  sustained  by  the  Sy- 
nod, seriously  contemplated  the  formation  of  a  missionary  board, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1857  employed  a  Presbyterial  missionary. 

Fears  as  to  efficacy  of  doctrinal  preaching  were  not  largely 
entertained.  The  ministers  were  "ordered"  to  preach ''once  a  year 
on  infant  baptism ;  and  the  King  James  version  was  good  enough 
for  these  "fathers  and  brethren."    Cf.  this  resolution  of  1859: 

"Whereas,  There  is  a  strong  effort  being  made  by  a  certain 
set  of  fanatics  to  make  the  impression  that  the  common  transla- 
tion of  the  Bible  commonly  called  King  James'  translation  is  in- 
correct ;  and 

"Whereas,  As  that  (they?)  have  attempted  to  make  the  im- 
pression that  the  religious  world  is  dissatisfied  with  it  and  are  en- 
gaged in  a  new  translation ;  therefore  to  show  our  entire  satisfac- 
tion with  the  translation  of  the  Bible,  and  to  express  our  utter 
contempt  for  such  false  impressions,  and  to  disown  all  connection 
with  that  most  detestable  organization  called  the  Bible  Union,  in 
which  the  Campbellites  and  a  portion  of  the  Baptists  are  at- 
tempting to  torture  and  pervert  the  Word  of  God  to  teach  their 
pernicious  errors ;  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  as  a  Presbytery,  in  obedience  to  a  request 
of  Ozark  Synod,  repudiate  that  version  of  the  Bible  being  pub- 
lished by  that  organization,  calling  themselves  the  Bible  Union, 
and  use  all  lawful  means  to  convince  the  public  of  its  God-dishon- 
oring and  soul-destroying  tendency,  and  recommend  the  congre- 
gations under  our  care  to  do  the  same." 

The  state  of  religion  was  vastly  improved  just  prior  to  the 
war.  In  October,  1858,  the  Presbytery  appointed  as  a  day  of 
prayer  for  revival  the  day  preceding  the  convening  of  the  Synod 
and  requested  the  Ozark  Presbytery  to  meet  with  the  Springfield 
Presbytery  in  joint  services.  The  report  of  the  next  spring  in- 
timates that  there  were  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  7l) 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  313 

colored  communicants.  From  the  minutes  of  September,  1860,  we 
glean:  "Ordained  ministers,  7;  licentiates,  6;  candidate,  1;  con- 
gregations, 17  ;  communicants,  670  ;  conversions,  68  ;  accessions,  50 ; 
adult  baptisms  12 ;  infant  baptisms,  25 ;  dismissions,  2 ;  deaths,  4 ; 
church  property  value,  $4,000.00."  It  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  these  reports  were  given  semi-annually  instead  of  annually  as 
at  present.  This  report  continues:  "Your  committee  are  happy 
to  be  able  to  report  that  religion  is  in  a  prosperous  condition;. 
There  have  been  some  considerable  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
within  your  bounds.  They  also  find  the  colored  brethren  in  a  pros- 
perous condition.  They  have  140  communicants,  35  accessions,  19 
baptisms."  From  the  minutes  of  March  2,  1861:  "Most  of  the 
congregations  under  your  care  are  in  a  healthy  condition.  Peace 
and  harmony  prevail  generally  throughout  your  bounds.  There 
have  been  some  gracious  outpourings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
conversion  of  souls,  for  which  we  should  give  praise  to  the  Great 
Head  and  King  of  Zion,  but  not  so  much  as  in  former  days,  which 
calls  for  great  humiliation  and  repentance  before  God  for  our 
want  of  fervent  zeal  and  energetic  perseverance  in  the  cause  of 
God  as  a  church.  Your  committee  find  the  following  statistics: 
Ministers,  6 ;  licentiates,  7 ;  candidate,  1 ;  congregations,  20 ;  con- 
versions, 32 ;  accessions,  27 ;  adult  baptisms,  14 ;  infant,  14 ;  num- 
ber of  communicants,  602 ;  Sabbath  schools,  2 ;  -pupils,  80 ;  teach- 
ers, 12;  dismissions,  7;  deaths,  2."  Including  the  colored  com- 
municants there  were  probably  2,500  members  of  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  churches  in  Southwest  Missouri  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  civil  war. 

The  first  allusion  to  disturbed  national  conditions  found  in 
the  records  of  Springfield  Presbytery  occurs  in  the  Spring  min- 
utes of  1861  in  these  words:  "The  Springfield  mission  is  doing 
well  all  things  considered.  The  press  in  pecuniary  matters  has 
somewhat  checked  the  progress  of  the  church  building.  But  if 
times  become  better  and  confidence  in  governmental  affairs  is  re- 
stored they  hope  sometime  this  year  to  finish  their  house  of  wor  . 
ship."  Like  the  Ozark  Presbytery,  this  Presbytery  appears  to 
have  expressed  no  opinions  on  the  issues  impending. 


314  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  III. 


"THE  DESTRUCTION  THAT  WASTETH  AT  NOONDAY"— 
RECONSTRUCTION. 


Of  the  three  Presbyteries  in  Southwest  Missouri  SpringfieK; 
alone  retained  its  organization  during  the  civil  war. 

The  battle  of  Bull  Run  had  been  fought  and,  as  has  been  said, 
"The  South  gained  the  battle  and, the  Union  gained  the  cause." 
In  our  own  confines  the  battle  of  Wilson  Creek  had  been  fought 
August  10th.  Nevertheless  the  Presbytery  convened  in  October, 
1861,  at  Cumberland  Union,  Greene  county.  "But  few  members 
being  present  and  no  congregation,  the  opening  sermon  was  dis- 
pensed with!" 

Interesting  extracts  from  minutes : 

"Your  commissioner  to  the  last  Assembly  would  report  that 
he  complied  with  your  orders.  He  started  in  time  to  have  reached 
St.  Louis  before  the  Assembly  convened,  but  was  detained  two 
days  by  high  water  and  slow  stage  driving,  hence  missed  the 
sittings  of  two  days  and  was  present  but  one  day,  the  session 
lasting  but  three  days." 

"Your  correspondent  in  behalf  of  Brother  *  *  *  would 
report  that  he  forwarded  to  the  stated  clerk  of  Des  Moines  Pres- 
bytery immediately  after  the  close  of  your  last  meeting.  He  is 
sorry  to  have  to  say  that  he  has  received  no  official  notice  of  its 
reception.  *  *  *  He  sent  a  stamp  to  pay  the  postage  on  his 
response,  which  of  itself  would  insure  an  answer  among  gentle- 
men, and  how  much  it  should  among  Christian  brethren.  *  *  * 
He  intended  to  have  made  further  efforts  to  hear  from  Brother 
*  *  *  ,  but  the  derangements  in  mail  facilities  has  hitherto 
prevented  it.  He  still  intends  doing  so  if  communication  is  pos- 
sible." 

This  item  reminds  me  of  Caesar's  facility  with  indirect  dis- 
course and  Demosthenese  vituperative  powers.  I  have  omitted 
the  name  of  the  clerk  thus  indicated  because  there  are  so  many 
session  clerks  in  Southwest  Missouri  and  a  few  ministers  who 
ought  to  be  regarded  as  the  descendants  of  this  letter-ignoring 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  315 

brother  that  I  i'ear  they  would  fail  to  recognize  the  relationship  if 
his  name  were  inserted  ! 

"The  war  and  excitement  with  all  their  attendant  evils  have 
sadly  checked  the  progress  of  religion.  The  division  of  sentiment 
and  active  part  taken  by  many  of  the  members  and  some  of  the 
ministers  have  broken  up  in  a  great  degree  the  public  means  of 
grace.  Prayer  meetings  have  been  dispensed  with  •  Sabbath 
schools  broken  up ;  preaching  in  some  places  entirely  and  in  others 
almost  entirely  discontinued.  Many  are  indifferent  to  and  neglect- 
ful of  attending  church  services.  Ministers  in  some  instances  have 
given  up  for  the  present  their  great  work.  But  few  of  the  camp 
and  protracted  meetings  appointed  at  your  lasj;  session  were  held. 
These  are  some  of  the  startling  evidences  that  force  themselves  on 
the  mind  of  the  evils  of  war.  Yet  where  preaching  has  been  kept 
up,  and  in  the  few  protracted  meetings  that  were  held,  an  interest 
and  devotion  was  exhibited  that  indicate  a  better  state  of  religion 
when  the  tempest  shall  have  blown  over  and  the  calm  returns. 
Such  are  unusual  times  in  our  experience ;  yet  not  worse  than  the 
Jews  and  others  of  God's  people  have  suffered  in  former  times; 
but  to  them  a  better  and  brighter  day  dawned.  May  it  soon  re- 
turn to  us. ' ' 

"Your  committee  would  remind  you  of  the  great  importance 
of  humility,  prayer  and  untiring  devotion,  and  implicit  confidence 
in  Him  who  guards  Zion  as  the  apple  of  His  eye,  calls  her  members 
His  'jewels'  and  spareth  them  'as  a  man  spareth  his  son  that 
serveth  him.'  " 

"The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted: 

"  'Whereas,  The  next  General  Assembly  will  be  one  of  great 
importance,  as  the  division  of  the  church  will  likely  be  considered, 
and  it  will  be  important  for  the  Presbytery  to  be  represented. 
Therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  congregations  send  up  to  the  next  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery  the  same  amounts  as  assessed  last  fall.'  ' 

The  spring  and  fall  sessions  of  1862  met  and  adjourned  with- 
out a  quorum,  the  latter  adjourning  to  the  Friday  before  the  fourth 
Sabbath  in  November,  at  which  time  a  quorum  was  present,  and  on 
the  following-  Monday  the  report  was  adopted,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  part : 

"The  corrupting  influence  that  prevails  throughout  your 
bounds  arising  out  of  the  war  and  its  attendant  evils  have  greatly 
checked  the  progress  of  religion.  Some  of  your  ministers  have 
taken  a  very  active  part  in  the  strife  and  contention  already  in  the 
land,  they  apparently  having  exchanged  their  hymn  books,  which 
is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  for  carnal  weapons.  Consequently  their 
fields  of  labor  as  ministers  of  Christ  are  left  uncultivated,  their 
flocks  are  scattered  and  the  cause  of  our  ever-blessed  Master  is 


3 16  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

suffering.  No  camp  or  protracted  meetings  have  been  held  within 
your  hounds  for  the  hist  18  months.  Therefore  because  the  love 
of  many  waxeth  cold  iniquity  doth  much  more  abound." 

A  year  Later,  i.  e.,  October,  1863,  conditions  were  much  more 
encouraging,  and  although  missionary  efforts  were  practically 
abandoned  durum  the  war.  the  practice  of  holding  revival  meet- 
ings was  resumed  and  they  were  attended  by  demonstrations  of 
God's  power  in  "a  most  wonderful  manner.'*  And  the  firsl  day 
of  January,  1864,  was  set  aparl  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation 
and  prayer,  with  the  request  that  each  minister  preach  a  sermon 
that  day  on  the  call  to  the  ministry. 

The  statistics  for  the  fall  meeting  of  1865  were:  '".Ministers, 
10;  licentiates,  2;  candidates,  none;  congregations,  23:  accessions 
since  last  Presbytery,  86;  conversions.  156;  infant  baptisms.  !) ;  dis- 
missions. 1;  suspensions,  1;  deaths,  6;  communicant.  794:  church 
property.  $4,000.00."  These  statistics  probably  included  the 
Mount  Vernon  and  Spring  River  congregations  and  Revs.  A.  A. 
Young  and  William  Steel,  said  churches  and  ministers  having  been 
enrolled  by  reason  of  the  disbanding  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Oza  rfc 
and  Neosho.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  Springfield 
Presbytery  survived  the  ravages  of  war  so  much  more  successfully 
than  the  other  Presbyteries.  These  Presbyteries  appear  to  have 
been  reduced  to  one  minister  each.  And  in  addition  to  the  two 
churches  enumerated  above  the  records  mention  the  fact  that  the 
Assembly  added  to  the  Presbytery  of  Springfield  the  churches  of 
Greenfield,  Walnut  Grove  and  New  Hope.  It  is  probable  that  for 
the  most  part  the  other  churches  of  the  disbanded  Presbytery  were 
disorganized.  The  Springfield  Church  did  not  fare  so  well  as  the 
Presbytery.  Never  strong  before  the  war,  the  records  state  that 
the  mission  was  abandoned  in  1862,  and  subsequently  it  would 
appear  that  the  incompleted  house  of  worship  was  sold  for  debt. 
But  a  committee  was  appointed  to  raise  subscriptions  to  redeem 
the  property,  and  from  spring  to  fall  and  fall  to  spring  for  nearly 
ten  years  committees,  financial  agents,  et  cet.,  were  appointed  to 
raise  funds  to  meet  the  debt  and  complete  the  building.  The 
church  apparently  had  a  moribund  existence  most  of  this  time. 

The  Presbytery  was  ransacked  "from  Dan  to  Beersheba"  in 
the  interests  of  this  mission.  Rev.  J.  N.  Edmeston  took  charge  of 
the  work  and  the  reorganization  thereof  was  approved  in  1869. 
At  length,  in  the  fall  of  1870.  the  Presbytery  disposed  of  the  vexed 
problem  by  taking  subscriptions  in  which  subscribers  agreed  to  be 
responsible  for  the  sums  opposite  their  names.  That  our  larger 
churches  may  feel  anew  their  responsibility  to  the  country  and 
towns,  I  incorporate  this  subscription  :  $500.00  each,  C.  B.  Holland 
and  J.  B.  Hillhouse ;  $50.00  each.  H.  A.  Tucker,  J.  E.  Garrett,  W. 
W.  Donham.  D.  W.  Amos,  Nathan  Bray,  A.  A.  Young.  I.  S.  S. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  317 

Pond,  W.  H.  Duff,  John  Prigmore,  R,  J.  Sims;  $25  each,  A.  T. 
King,  S.  Hindman,  Brothers  Lowry  and  Bowie  (I  am  not  certain 
about  this  last  name),  W.  J.  Garrett,  E.  E.  Baker,  A.  A.  Keran,  S. 
G.  White,  G.  Davenport,  X.  G.  McDowell,  L  P.  McAdoo,  N.  Bray, 
J.  W.  Moore,  J.  D.  Montgomery,  John  Hudson,  E.  G.  Paris ;  $10.00 
each,  J.  Rippy,  C.  C.  Cash,  G  P  Robeson,  Brother  Elkins,  Jacob 

Longcrier,  W  C.  Church,  Mitchel  Ross, Hocker,  M.  V.  Russell, 

A.  D.  Drezell,  Simon  Headley,  J.  P.  Alsup,  James  Harkness,  J.  N. 
Barr,  J.  H.  Johnson,  D.  F.  Tyndale ;  $5.00  each,  J.  D.  Montgomery, 
W.  A.  Miller,  P.  A.  Rice. 

Probably  few  persons  of  this  generation  are  aware  of  how 
near  to  shipwreck  the  Cumberland  Church  came  in  the  turbulent 
waters  in  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  struck  the  rocks  that  rent 
it  in  twain.  Dr.  McDonald  presents  the  "War  Record"  of  the 
church  at  large  in  the  thirty-eighth  chapter  of  his  history,  in  which 
he  attributes  the  fact  that  the  church  did  not  split  over  the  resolu- 
tions of  1864  to  the  facts  that  by  Northern  votes  the  Assembly  of 
1866  met  on  Southern  soil,  which  was  regarded  as  the  holding  out 
of  the  olive  branch  of  peace,  that  the  stated  clerk  enrolled  all  reg- 
ularly commissioned  Southern  delegates,  although  in  the  minds  of 
some  the  resolutions  of  '64  in  their  natural  interpretation  would 
have  forbidden  this,  and  especially  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the 
strength  of  the  church  was  in  the  South.  This  last  statement 
should  be  coupled  with  his  previously  recorded  testimony  that  the 
church  prior  to  1864  had  gone  on  record  as  favorable  to  loyalty  to 
the  United  States  government  and  as  opposed  to  slavery.  In  con- 
cluding his  remarks  about  the  Southern  membership  of  the  church 
he  adds:  "When  they  were  in  the  majority  in  the  Assembly,  and 
able  to  carry  things  their  own  way,  they  unanimously  granted 
terms  to  our  Northern  membership,  such  as  the  Southern  wing  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  has  steadfastly  refused  to  accept  from 
Northern  Presbyterians.  At  no  time  in  the  last  fifteen  years* 
would  the  Presbyterian  Church  have  continued  to  be  rent  asunder, 
had  the  Southern  wing  thereof  declared  its  willingness  to  accept  a 
similar  compromise." 

As  to  the  Springfield  Presbvterv  (Minutes  of  fall  session, 
1865)  : 

•  A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  in 
regard  to  what  course  we  should  take  in  regard  to  returned  rebel 
brethren  to  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  G.  Assembly,  and 
in  connection  with  the  late  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 
Which  committee  submitted  the  following,  which  was  con- 
curred in : 

1.     Resolved,  That  we  do  heartily  concur  with  the  Assembly 
*This  history  was  issued  in  1888. 


3 18  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

in  extending  pardons  to  returned  rebel  ministers  who  make  the  re- 
quired confession. 

Resolved  second.  That  although  the  Late  Constitution  of 
.Missouri  conflicts  in  some  degree  with  the  standpoint  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  relation  to  rebel  ministers,  we  as  a  Pres.  submit  to 
the  powers  that  be  and  acquiesce  in  its  requirements. 

Resolved  third,  That  all  ministers  belonging  to  this  Pies.. 
who  have  not  complied  with  the  Constitution  and  the  (i.  Assembly. 
will  not  be  admitted  to  seats  as  members  in  counsel  hereafter. 

Resolved  fourth.  That  we  regard  the  rebellion  as  sinful  and 
highly  detrimental  to  the  safety  of  political  freedom. 

Resolved  fifth,  That  you  admonish  and  advise  your  erring 
brethren  to  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  G.  Assembly,  and 
Constitution  of  the  State  of  Missouri  at  their  earliest  convenience." 
From  spring  minutes,  1867  : 

"Whereas,  We  believe  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
is  in  the  midst  of  a  fearful  crisis,  that  there  is  danger  of  a  division 
of  our  beloved  denomination,  and  believing  that  a  division  would 
prove  ruinous  to  all  our  interests,  to  all  our  institutions  of  learn- 
ing, to  our  missionary  enterprises  and  the  general  success  of  the 
church,  we  therefore  instruct  the  commissioners  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Assembly  not  to  encourage  or  sanction  any  measure  that  will 
tend  to  the  division  of  the  church ;  and  further,  that  they  seek  no 
alliances  with  any  other  denomination  contrary  to  the  doctrines  of 
our  Confession  of  Faith." 

When  the  war  was  over  the  Presbytery  made  truly  heroic  ef- 
forts to  regain  the  waste  places,  notably  in  the  southwest  and 
northwest  parts  of  its  enlarged  territory,  which  covered  all  South- 
west Missouri.  These  self-sacrificing  efforts  were  crowned  with 
phenomenal  success.  From  time  to  time  the  Presbytery  employed 
from  two  to  four  missionaries  to  reorganize  disbanded  churches 
and  to  gather  the  scattered  people.  Their  salaries  were  small, 
usually  two  received  $400  for  six  months'  service,  but  these  were 
the  offerings  lagrely  of  country  and  village  churches  and  minis- 
ters whose  fields  were  not  quite  so  badly  devastated  as  those  to 
which  missionaries  were  sent.  For  a  number  of  years  the  accessions 
reported  seem  almost  incredibly  large,  and  while  this  is  partly  ex- 
plained by  the  probable  fact  that  many  of  these  were  persons  who 
had  gone  astray  during  the  war,  still  the  records  give  evidence 
that  revival  fires  burned  brightly. 

The  fall  minutes  of  1869  contain  this  record:  "31  ordained 
ministers,  7  licentiates,  7  candidates,  150  ruling  elders,  and  about 
3,000  communicants.  There  have  been  added  to  the  church  during 
the  past  year  about  832  members.  As  we  have  not  before  us  full 
reports  from  all  parts  of  the  Presbytery,  perhaps  the  number  re- 
ported falls  short." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  319 

During  this  flourishing  period  of  the  church's  history  a  mis- 
sion board  was  established  in  its  bounds,  though  just  what  relation 
it  had  to  the  church  at  large  I  am  not  able  to  say.  At  the  spring 
meeting  in  1870  the  Assembly's  board  of  missions  was  requested 
to  aid  in  the  support  of  the  missionaries  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery.  Resolutions  were  also  passed  to  establish  a  depository 
for  the  publications  of  the  church  in  the  city  of  Springfield,  and 
S.  F.  Gibson  was  appointed  a  general  agent  for  the  Presbytery. 

With  the  growth  of  the  Presbytery  it  was  urged  that  it  had 
become  too  large  to  be  entertained  easily  by  the  churches,  that  it 
was  too  expensive  for  delegates  from  remote  places  to  attend,  and 
that  in  consequence  thereof  the  Synod  should  divide  and  reorgan- 
ize the  Presbyteries  in  consonance  with  the  respective  territories 
of  the  Neosho,  Ozark  and  Springfield  Presbyteries  prior  to  the 
war.  The  efforts  in  this  direction  were  not  immediately  successful, 
but  in  the  fall  of  1870  the  Missouri  Synod,  which  was  to  convene 
in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  was  memoralized  to  re-establish  the  three 
Presbyteries  in  accordance  with  the  tenor  of  the  above.  This  re- 
quest \vas  granted,  and  the  General  Assembjy  of  1871  authorized 
the  ministers  of  the  three  Presbyteries,  together  with  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  congregations,  to  meet  in  Springfield  on  Friday  pre- 
ceding the  third  Sabbath  in  October  to  constitute  the  Synod  of 
Ozark.  This  Synod  had  ceased  to  be  during  the  war.  The  As- 
sembly of  1864  had  said : 

"Whereas,  The  Ozark  Synod  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  for  some  cause,  is  in  a  disorganized  condition  (having  one 
organized  Presbytery  in  its  bounds)  :  therefore  be  it 

Resolved.  That  said  Ozark  Synod  is  hereby  dissolved  and  its 
Presbyteries  are  hereby  attached  to  the  Missouri  Synod." 


320  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  IV. 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


"I  still  had  hopes  my  latest  hours  to  crown 
Amidst  these  humble  bowers  to  lay  me  down. 

"And  as  a  hare  whom  hounds  and  horn  pursue 
Pants  to  the  place  from  whence  at  first  she  flew, 
I  still  had  hopes,  my  long  vexations  past. 
Here  to  return,  and  die  at  home  at  last." 

I  shall  pass  in  rapid  survey  the  era  from  1871  to  1907.  The 
heading  of  this  chapter  may  be  regarded  as  an  anachronism,  but 
the  trend  of  events  as  seen  in  retrospect  rather  than  prospect  jus- 
tifies the  conviction  that  the  unceasing  purpose  of  the  Eternal  em- 
braced the  coming  together  of  the  dismenbered  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

A  long  time  ago  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Great  King 
were  building  a  palace  beautiful.  The  workers  grew  weary  and 
the  work  languished  for  a  time.  Then  some  of  the  younger  chil- 
dren fancied  they  discovered  a  faster  way  to  build  the  palace  and 
they  began  to  work  with  might  and  main.  Then  this  disputation 
followed : 

Older  Children  :     ' '  What  are  you  doing  ? ' ' 

Younger  Children:     "We  are  building  the  palace  beautiful.'' 

0.  C. :  "  But  you  are  using  unseasoned  timber  and  are  going 
about  it  in  the  wrong  way." 

Y.  C. :  "Nay,  but  this  is  the  best  way  to  build.  You  are  idle 
and  scarcely  doing  anything." 

0.  C. :  "You  mar  the  symmetry  of  the  palace  and  your  work 
is  temporary." 

Y.  C. :  "Your  house  is  cold  and  cheerless  and  has  no  bright 
fireside." 

O.  C. :     "The  eternal  sun  has  given  it  light  and  warmth  all 


FIRST   FRUITS  OF  THE   UNION 


REUNION    CHURCH    OF    SPRINGFIELD 


CARTERTILLE    CHURCH 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  321 

these  years.     The  clouds,  if  such  there  be,  will  pass  away  and  the 
palace  will  be  resplendent  and  grand." 

Y.  C. :     "But  you  are  not  building  fast  enough." 

0.  C. :  "The  eternal  years  of  God  are  ours.  You  can't  build 
with  that  material  and  in  that  way. ' ' 

Y.  C:     "But  we  will." 

0.  C. :     "Then  you  cannot  work  on  this  palace." 

Y.  C. :     "Then  we  will  build  a  better  one." 

So  they  went  out  and  started  to  build  another  house.  Side  by 
side  the  two  buildings  rose.  The  two  sets  of  workers  sometimes 
looked  askance  at  each  other ;  sometimes  said  things  that  had  bet- 
ter have  been  left  unsaid,  for  family  troubles  are  most  intense  and 
oft-times  hardest  to  right.  By  and  by  the  proportions  and  the 
grandeur  of  the  buildings  they  were  erecting  grew  upon  them. 
And  because  they  were  kindred  and  each  profited  by  experience 
and  began  to  exchange  ideas,  they  found  that  their  buildings 
looked  very  much  alike.  Then  they  discovered  that  all  these  years 
they  had  been  building  on  the  same  foundation — building  toward 
one  another.  They  were  right  together.  And  there  was  hewed 
out  of  the  Mountain  of  the  Divine  Purpose  a  great  capstone  called 

LOVE. 

and  they  lifted  it  together  in  its  place  and  one  family  was  building 
one  palace  beautiful.     *     *     * 

In  the  spring  of  1871  the  Ozark  and  Neosho  Presbyteries  were 
reorganized,  and  in  1887  the  West  Plains  Presbytery  was  enum- 
erated in  the  sisterhood. 

To  the  Assembly  of  1871  the  Springfield  Presbytery  reported 
1,700  communicants'  Ozark  1,204,  Neosho  1,000,  a  total  of  3,904 
For  several  succeeding  years  the  reported  membership  of  the 
Presbyteries  was  smaller,  due  no  doubt  to  the  incompleteness  of 
the  returns.  Although  the  Springfield  Presbytery  alone  survived 
the  ravages  of  the  war,  and  at  the  reconstruction  retained  more  of 
the  communicants,  Ozark  Presbytery  soon  came  to  its  own  and 
presented  the  fairest  field  of  Cumberland  Presbyterian  triumphs 
in  Southwest  Missouri.  Within  its  confines  were  the  stalwart 
Cumberland  counties  of  Lawrence.  Dade  and  Barry.  Here  too 
were  the  scenes  of  the  labors  of  the  pioneers — Young,  Montgomery 
and  Garrett — and  here  the  educational  and  institutional  efforts  of 
the  church  were  at  their  best. 


322  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

In  some  years  the  growth  of  t his  Presbytery  waa  phenomenal. 
The  statistics  for  the  years  1885-7  were  : 

Year  Minis-  Licen-  Candi-        Churches     Additions        Profess-  Total 

ters  tiates  dates  by  Letter  ions  Com. 

1885  24  10  11  37  305  340  2180 

1886  23  7  11  39  132  668  2638 

1887  21  6  10  40  104  466  2662 

The  educational  interests  of  the  Ozark  Presbytery  were  re- 
vived at  Greeenfield  by  Rev.  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Garrett.  In  the  '70s 
.Mrs.  Garrett  opened  a  female  seminary,  which  ultimately  devel- 
oped into  Ozark  College.  The  institution  first  received  favorable 
mention  by  the  Presbytery,  then  was  accorded  Presbyterial  visita- 
tion, passed  under  the  control  of  the  Presbytery,  became  a 
Synodica!  college,  then  returned  to  Presbyterial  control  at  the  time, 
of  the  dissolution  of  the  second  Synod  of  Ozark.  In  September. 
1883.  it  was  stated  that  there  were  eight  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry attending  this  institution  and  that  three  more  were  to  enter 
soon,  and  the  entire  attendance  reached  as  high  as  190  one  year. 

In  October,  1884,  it  was  reported  that  the  school  had  a  prop- 
erty worth  from  $16,000  to  $18,000  with  a  debt  of  about  three 
thousand  dollars,  and  an  enthusiastic  purpose  to  raise  an  en- 
dowment of  $20,000.  his  purpose  was  not  fully  realized.  By 
October,  1890,  it  was  reported  that  the  school  was  out  of  debt 
and  had  an  endowment  of  $4,000. 

The  toilsome  struggle  that  brought  the  educational  interests 
of  the  Presbytery  to  this  point  had  led  them  to  the  unrecognized 
brow  of  the  hill.  The  fathers  and  brethren  thought  there  were  yet 
mountain  fastnesses  before  them,  but  the  next  decade,  while  now 
and  then  presenting  an  upward  look  and  climb,  for  the  most  part 
led  through  a  rapidly  descending  way.  Several  times  the  institu- 
tion was  closed,  and  reopened,  debts  accumulated  and  scholars  de- 
creased, and  at  length  Missouri  Valley  College  fell  heir  to  most  of 
the  property,  a  few  hundred  dollars  falling  to  the  Presbytery  for 
missionary  purposes.  The  institution,  like  its  predecessors,  had  its 
day.  and  it  accomplished  a  work  for  the  church  of  no  mean  propor- 
tions. 

Springfield  Presbytery,  while  not  so  intimately  associated 
with  Pleasant  Hope  Academy,  yet  realized  some  of  the  benign  in- 
fluences of  that  school.  In  1849  Rev.  R.  D.  Smith,  a  C.  P.  minister, 
superintended  the  first  high  school  at  this  place.  The  institution 
passed  out  of  existence  prior  to  the  war:  but  was  revived  for  a 
short  time  by  Rev.  A.  Griggsby.  another  C.  P.  minister,  and  then  in 
1883  a  company  was  organized  "to  establish  a  permanent  school." 
Note  the  Presbyterian  sound  of  recurring  names  in  this  list.  "The 
members  were :    E.  M.  Cowan,  J.  P.  Fullerton,  W.  P.  Patterson.  Z. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  323 

T.  L.  Burns.  R.  W.  Fullerton,  J.  P.  Cowan,  W.  M.  Fullerton,  J. 
S.  Cowan,  R.  F.  Fullerton,  N.  A.  Cowan,  D.  Salee,  S.  H.  Fullerton, 
S.  H.  Cowan  and  A.  Armstrong." 

For  fifteen  or  twenty  years  after  the  reorganization  of  the 
Presbyteries  the  general  trend  of  the  church  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri was  toward  rapid  progress.  Some  few  incidents  diverted  the 
minds  of  the  church  and  kept  the  advance  from  being  continuously 
rapid.  The  church  in  this  section  had  to  winnow  the  harvest  of  its 
sewing  in  the  baptismal  issue.  As  has  been  intimated,  the  early 
practices  permitted  the  candidate  to  select  the  mode.  The  com- 
mittee on  the  state  of  religion  in  the  Ozark  Prsebytery  said :  "It 
would  appear  from  the  above*  that  you  had  discarded  the  doctrine 
of  infant  baptism  in  the  bounds  of  your  Presbytery. ' '  But  if  such 
was  the  case  it  was  soon  restored,  and  gradually  the  church  came 
to  firmer  ground  on  the  question  of  the  mode  as  well  as  the  subject 
of  baptism,  and  administered  an  admonition  to  those  who  con- 
tinued to  practice  immersion.  There  was  one  instance,  too,  where 
a  brother  was  admonished  for  baptizing  a  dead  person.  The  doc- 
trine of  sanctification  was  also  a  disturbing  element  for  a  time,  but 
it  is  evident  that  the  views  out  of  harmony  with  historic  Presby- 
terianism gained  but  few  promulgators. 

I  shall  quote  now  from  the  biography  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Young : 

"The  year  1877  opened  with  brighter  prospects  for  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  than  ever  before  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri. For  forty  years  Mr.  Young  had  labored  and  toiled  here  in 
the  bounds  of  Ozark  Presbytery,  and  at  no  time  in  his  life  had  he 
seen  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  so  prosperous  as  now. 
*  *  *  In  October  of  this  year  Ozark  Synod  met  at  Zion  Church 
house,  and  here  again  Mr.  Young  had  an  opportunity  of  showing 
his  zeal  for  his  Master's  work.  At  this  meeting  of  the  Synod  the 
Wichita  Presbytery  was  added  to  the  Synod.  This  extends  the 
territory  of  the  Ozark  from  the  Gasconade  on  the  east  to  the  west- 
ern boundary  of  Kansas.  *  *  *  Mr.  Young  told  the  writer  of 
this  chapter  that  he  had  been  permitted  to  see  and  hear  what  he 
never  thought  of  seeing  or  hearing  when  he  came  into  the  wilder- 
ness country.  He  had  been,  permitted  to  shake  the  hand  of  min- 
isters from  the  country  bordering  on  the  Rocky  Mountains.  'And, 
better  than  all.  that  in  that  far-off  field  are  some  who  have  been 
brought  into  the  church  under  my  poor,  feeble  efforts.'  'This 
day,'  said  he,  'is  a  day  of  much  joy  to  me.  and  yet  it  is  a  day  of 
solemn  meditation.  All  my  brethren  who  started  with  me  in  the 
ministry — very  nearly  all — are  gone.  There  is  Buchanan.  John- 
ston. Burton,  and  Abernathy,  all  are  gone.'     *     *     * 

"The  year  1878  opened  with  heavy,  murky  clouds  hanging 
over  a  portion  of  the  church  in  Southwest  Missouri.    Troubles  be- 

*That  year  there  were  79  adult  baptisms  and  no  infant  baptisms. 


.^24  Prksbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

gau  to  work  up  in  the  bounds  of  Springfield  Presbytery  which 
threatened  destruction  to  sonic  parts  of  our  church.  Some  min- 
isters in  Springfield  Presbytery,  like  Paul  and  Barnabas,  fell  out 
by  the  way  and  had  to  separate.  'Phis  brought  trouble  in  the  con- 
gregation and  from  the  congregation  to  the  Presbytery,  and  from 
the  Presbytery  it  reached  the  Synod.  *  *  *  The  Synod  met 
in  the  month  of  October  in  the  town  of  Brookline,  Greene  county, 
Missouri.  *  *  *  We  had  a  strong  sea  from  the  very  first  day. 
Rev.  G.  W.  Browne  was  chosen  moderator,  and  to  his  wisdom 
and  good  judgment  we  are  indebted  to  a  very  great  extent  for  the 
results  of  the  work  of  this  Synod."  The  writer  then  tells  of  the 
mediating  influences  of  Mr.  Young  in  the  Synodical  sessions  of  this 
and  the  following  year.  I  quote  him  again:  "In  the  midst  of  all 
this  confusion  Mr.  Young  sat  in  silence,  but  counselled  the  moder- 
ator* to  stand  firm  to  the  decision,  saying  that  we  will  sustain  you 
in  your  decision.  On  Monday  of  this  session  Mr.  Young  arose  from 
his  seat.  It  was  some  effort  for  him  to  get  upon  his  feet,  he  was 
so  feeble ;  but  when  he  did  get  on  to  his  feet  he  delivered  an  ad- 
dress which  told  on  all  who  heard  him.  He  still  wanted  peace, 
but,  he  said :  'Let  us  execute  the  law,  and  if,  according  to  the  law 
men  must  die  just,  let  them  die.'  He  gave  the  young  men  of  the. 
Synod  an  important  lesson  that  they  will  not  soon  forget.  Here  in 
this  Synod  the  question  was  settled,  the  Synod  sustaining  the  ac- 
tion of  Springfield  Presbytery.  God  brought  us  through  all  these 
troubles  safely,  and  gave  to  us  the  safe  counsel  of  our  venerable 
father  until  our  church  had  passed  through  the  'narrows.'  On 
Wednesday  of  this  meeting  of  Ozark  Synod,  the  final  action  was 
had  on  the  report  of  the  committee  on  overtures.  The  report  was 
submitted  by  the  committee  in  regard  to  an  overture  coming  from 
Neosho  Presbytery  asking  the  Synod  to  change  the  lines  between 
Ozark  and  Neosho  Presbyteries.  The  change  proposed  would 
place  Mr.  Young  in  the  bounds  of  Neosho  Presbytery.  On  this 
subject  Mr.  Young  delivered  his  last  speech  on  the  floor  of  the 
Synod.  *  *  *  'Brethren.  I  am  a  member  of  Ozark  Presby- 
tery, have  been  a  member  of  this  Presbytery  ever  since  it  was  or- 
ganized, except  a  few  years  when  I  was  loaned  to  Neosho  Presby- 
tery, when  that  Presbytery  was  weak,  and  could  not  live  without 
me,  and  during  the  period  of  war  and  its  results,  when  the  Ozark 
Presbytery  had  no  existence.  With  these  exceptions  I  have  al- 
ways been  a  member  of  Ozark  Presbytery.  And  now.  brethren,  I 
have  but  a  short  time  to  live,  and  let  me  die  at  home  with  my 
brethren  in  my  Presbytery,  and  after  my  decease,  then  you  may 
make  your  changes,  but  let  me  be  quiet  at  home.' 

The  Ozark  Synod  passed  out  of  existence  in  accordance  with 
the  adoption  of  this  recommendation  made  to  the  Assembly  of 
1888  :  "Your  committee  beg  leave  to  report  that  at  your  last  meet- 
*  Rev.  J.  B.   Fly 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  325 

ing  your  reverend  body  saw  tit  to  attach  the  Springfield  Presby- 
tery to  the  Synod  of  Ozark,  from  which  it  had  been  detached  by 
former  action.  A  memorial  from  Ozark  Synod,  referred  to  us  by 
this  Assembly,  asks  for  the  dissolution  of  said  Synod,  and  the  con- 
nection of  the  Presbyteries  which  compose  it,  viz.,  Neosho,  Ozark 
and  Springfield,  with  the  Synod  of  Missouri.  Further,  it  is  pro- 
posed that  Ozark  Synod  surrender  all  its  rights  in  law  to  Ozark 
College  to  the  Ozark  Presbytery,  and  that  the  trustees  of  said  col- 
lege be  directed  to  secure  the  legal  rights  of  the  church  in  the 
property  of  the  institution.  We  recommend  that  the  General  As- 
sembly comply  with  the  request  of  the  Synod. ' ' 

A  minister  of  wide  observation  and  discriminating  judgment 
told  me  since  the  recent  reunion  that  for  ten  years  prior  to  this 
union  the  church  had  made  no  growth  in  Southwest  Missouri,  and 
gave  his  opinion  as  to  the  cause.  Like  young  Elihu  "I  also  will 
shew  mine  opinion."  The  minutes  of  the  Assembly  give  the  fol- 
lowing as  the  communicant  strength  of  the  Presbyteries  (this  in- 
cludes non-resident  members)  : 

Year  Springfield  Ozark  Neosho  West  Plains  Total 

Pres.  Pres.  Pres.  Pres. 

1880  1200  1480  700  3380 

1885  1042  2180  1076  4298 

1890     1730  2753  1396  463  6342 

1895  1824  2663  1465  860  6812 

1900  1698  2360  1417  600  6075 

1905  1773  2290  1347  559  5969 

The  disturbed  conditions  in  1905  may  account  in  part  for  the 
falling  off  of  that  year,  but  the  decrease  of  1900,  as  compared  with 
the  membership  in  1895  and  1890,  occurred  before  the  reunion  agi- 
tation began. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  volume  I  have  scanned  and  anno- 
tated abort  three  thousand  five  hundred  pages  of  manuscript  min- 
utes of  various  Presbyteries,  in  addition  to  the  information  gath- 
ered from  printed  pages,  letters,  sessional  records  and  by  private 
interviews.  I  believe,  therefore,  that  the  deductions  I  shall  make 
are  based  on  a  sufficiently  wide  acquaintance  with  the  facts  to 
guarantee  their  accuracy  (1)  The  Cumberland  Church  was 
not  exempt  from  the  tendency  cityward  and  the  waning  power  of 
rural  and  village  churches,  so  noticeable  for  a  score  of  years.  In 
Southwest  Missouri  the  New  School  Church  in  its  work  at  North 
Prairie  and  Cave  Springs  prior  to  the  war,  and  the  Presbyterian 
Church  after  the  reunion  of  1870  in  the  early  '80s  at  Ozark  Prairie 
and  the  northeastern  part  of  Jasper  county,  approached  the  fa- 
miliar practice  of  the  Cumberland  Church  in  pre-empting  a  terri- 
tory and  making  it  a  stronghold.  Oakland  and  Spring  River, 
Mount  Vernon  and  Big  Spring  in  Lawrence  county;  Center  Creek 


326  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

in  Jasper;  the  territory  contiguous  to  (ireenfield  in  Dade;  Wash- 
burn's Prairie  and  its  offshoots  in  Barry;  Salem — afterwards  Neo- 
sho— in  Newton ;  Mount  Comfort,  New  Providence  and  Brookline 
in  Greene,  and  Pleasant  Hope  in  Polk  are  in  evidence.  The  Cum- 
berland Church  justly  prided  itself  on  its  work  for  the  rural  re- 
gions. The  Springfield  Church  was  a  nursling  when  some  of  these 
were  vigorous  and  strong.  Carthage  was  a  mission,  receiving  help 
from  beyond  the  confines  of  its  own  Presbytery  as  late  as  1887,  and 
the  church  never  had  more  than  a  feeble  plant  in  Joplin.  When 
the  question  of  union  was  at  issue  insinuations  were  made  that  if 
the  union  was  effected  the  Presbyterian  Church  would  neglect  the 
rural  regions.  In  justice  to  the  united  church  it  must  be  said  that 
the  decline  in  the  country  work  began  years  before  the  union  ques- 
tion was  agitated  and  that  the  united  church  did  not  inherit  from 
the  Cumberland  branch  a  single  strong  rural  church  in  all  South- 
west Missouri.  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  fact  that  the  com- 
bined membership  of  the  four  Presbyteries  was  not  as  large  in  1900 
as  in  1890.  The  shoAving  would  have  been  worse  still  had  not  the 
city  churches  kept  up  the  average.  Before  the  union  was  consum- 
mated, and  without  any  reference  to  that  event,  the  old  New  Prov- 
idence Church  had  been  reduced  to  a  feeble  remnant,  enjoying  the 
occasional  ministrations  of  the  Word.  Brookline.  that  I  am  told 
had  once  a  membership  of  300,  reported  but  a  sixth  of  that  num- 
ber. And  where  was  the  grandeur  of  Center  Creek,  that  reported 
in  1905  twenty  members,  and  Washburn  that  reported  twenty-one  .' 
These  churches,  together  with  Mount  Comfort  and  Pleasant  Hope, 
have  not  recognized  the  union,  and  although  it  may  be  charged 
that  Mount  Comfort  and  Pleasant  Hope  have  suffered  because  of 
the  union,  yet  I  am  constrained  to  believe  that  even  their  palmiest 
days  were  at  least  five  years  before  the  union  was  mentioned.  It 
has  not  been  the  policy  of  the  united  church  to  disturb  the  anti- 
unionists  where  they  have  the  majority.  In  Southwest  Missouri, 
if  anything,  the  union  element  in  the  Cumberland  Church  has 
lacked  in  justifiable  aggression  in  this  respect  and  has  given  way 
too  readily.  It  remains  to  be  seen  what  those  in  possession  will  do 
with  the  old  strongholds  of  Pleasant  Hope,  Mount  Comfort.  Big 
Spring,  et.  cet. 

(2)  The  General  Assembly  of  1895  pronounced  the  rallying 
shibboleth,  "Education  before  ordination."  Southwest  Missouri 
Cumberland  Presbyterianism  caught  up  the  cry  and  echoed  it  from 
Presbyterial  deliverance  to  Presbyterial  deliverance.  The  annals  of 
Ozark  Presbytery  particularly  are  replete  with  the  consideration 
of  educational  interests  for  half  a  century.  With  all  this  one  gets 
the  impression  that  the  shibboleth  was  used  in  fulminating  deliv- 
erances and  disregarded  in  practical  application.  On  the  subject 
of  supporting  the  ministry.  Dr.  McDonald  says  that  the  church 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  327 

rectified  its  mistakes  slowly.  I  quote :  ' '  The  whole  generation  of 
preachers  had  false  views  on  the  subject.  'Supporting  the  Gospel' 
was  the  text;  a  pitiful  hat  collection  which  furnished  the  ministers 
who  held  the  meeting  from  one  to  three  dollars  apiece  for  a  week's 
labor  was  the  application.'  '  I  have  examined  probably  a  hun- 
drd  reports  given  by  ministers  to  the  Presbytery,  enumerating  the 
number  of  times  they  preached  during  the  year  and  the  compensa- 
tion received  therefor,  and  I  am  fully  prepared  to  assert  this  is  not 
a  hyperbole.  But  I  am  anticipating.  The  quotation  from  Dr.  Mc- 
Donald was  given  to  illustrate  another  point.  "Education  Before 
Ordination"  was  the  text.  The  application  was  evaded  until  some 
future  time.  In  1898  the  committee  on  education  in  Ozark  Presby- 
tery submitted  the  following:  "  'Education  before  ordination,' 
was  made  the  war  cry  of  the  General  Assembly  at  its  session  in 
1895,  and  the  cry,  we  are  glad  to  say,  (has  been)  continually 
sounded  ever  since.  The  time  was  when  perhaps  an  educated  min- 
istry was  not  so  essential  as  now ;  but  that  day  is  passing,  yea,  has 
passed.  The  young  man  who  feels  that  he  is  called  to  the  min- 
istry, should  also  feel  and  know  that  God  expects  and  requires  his 
best  efforts,  and  no  man  is  at  his  best  as  a  teacher  unless  he  is  at 
least  the  equal  in  education  of  a  majority  of  his  hearers.  There 
never  will  be  a  time  when  the  church  is  not  in  need  of  well-edu- 
cated men.  We  would  insist  that  our  probationers  prepare  them- 
selves by  attending  our  own  institutions  of  learning  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. "When  the  attendance  at  some  good  school  is  not  possible 
we,  your  committee,  insist  that  the  course  laid  down  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  be  followed  strictly,  and  that  no  probationer  be  al- 
lowed to  pass  until  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  branches  is  shown. 
The  Presbytery  should  encourage  her  young  men  in  every  way  pos- 
sible to  secure  an  education,  and  should  hold  them  strictly  to  ac- 
count for  remission  in  attending  the  duties  of  preparation.  As 
Ozark  Presbytery  has  been  put  on  the  list  of  those  who  have  been 
derelict  in  their  duty  as  touching  the  education  of  its  probationers, 
it  behooves  us  to  take  advanced  steps  in  the  line  of  education." 
The  perhaps  in  this  report  should  be  emphasized  by  the  additional 
fact  that#there  were  strong  reasons  why  many  of  the  earlier  min- 
isters were  not  educated  that  do  not  obtain  in  later  times.  Oppor- 
tunities must  be  taken  into  account.  Men  of  strong  native  gifts 
entered  the  ranks  and  did  exploits  on  meager  educational  qualifi- 
cations. If  they  had  possessed  the  opportunities  of  today  they 
would  have  improved  them. 

(3)  A  secularized  ministry  and  a  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
ministry  and  the  churches  that  a  tenure  of  six  months  or  a  year  at 
least  was  all  that  could  be  contemplated  in  preaching  appoint- 
ments clung  to  the  church  with  remarkable  tenacity.  The  people 
never  awakened  fully  to  the  conception  of  an  adequate  support. 


328  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Many  of  the  ministers  retained  their  secular  engagements.  Ap- 
pointments  were  made  for  six  months  at  a  time  and  supplies  se- 
lected churches  widely  scattered  with  little  regard  to  forming  a 
contiguous  group  and  building  it  up.  It  has  been  asserted,  with 
reason  as  I  believe,  that  there  were  two  distinct  elements  in  the 
ministry  of  the  church  before  the  agitation  for  union;  and  it  has 
even  been  averred  that  the  church  would  have  split  in  this  section 
had  there  been  no  union.  I  cite  these  things  in  extenuation  of  the 
charges  thai  the  union  was  pushed  too  rapidly.  So  far  as  South- 
west Missouri  is  concerned  I  do  not  believe  the  situation  would 
have  changed  in  ten  years.  We  can  dispassionately  affirm  that  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  has  learned  some  lessons  in  adapta- 
tion in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century — that  some  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  ministers  in  the  best  sense  "discerned  the  signs  of 
the  times"  and  were  held  back  by  those  who  clung  to  the  faults 
rather  than  emulated  the  virtues  of  the  past.  Beyond  question  a 
number  of  the  Cumberland  ministers  in  Southwest  Missouri  were 
not  and  are  not  doctrinally,  temperamentally  and  practically  in 
accord  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  do  not  claim  to  be 
and  we  would  not  insinuate  that  they  are.  On  all  policies  essential 
to  the  best  development  of  the  church,  on  the  question  of  subordi- 
nation to  established  principles  of  church  government,  and  on  the 
fundamentals  of  historic  Presbyterianism.  they  were  in  little,  if 
any,  more  accord  with  their  brethren  who  entered  in  to  the  union 
before  the  union  was  agitated  than  they  are  with  the  united 
church.  Throughout  its  existence  the  Cumberland  Church  has 
claimed  to  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  family  of  churches.  This 
claim  involves  the  acceptance  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  govern- 
ment and  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  doctrine.  In  all  of  the 
Presbyterian  churches  there  are  different  shades  of  Calvinistic  be- 
lief. We  may  denominate  these  high  Calvinism  and  low  Calvin- 
ism, or  rigid  Calvinism  and  moderate  Calvinism.  The  Presby- 
terian Church,  U.  S.  A.,  maintains  that  its  fold  is  large  enough  to 
embrace  Calvinists  of  all  shades.  The  Cumberland  Church  his- 
torically recognized  its  affinity  with  the  Presbyterian  family, 
sought  repeatedly  to  unite  with  this  or  that  branch  of  the  church, 
and  was  admitted  to  a  place  in  the  Presbyterian  alliance  through- 
out the  world.  After  repeated  efforts  that  failed  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  agreement  could  not  be  reached  as  to  the  basis  of  union, 
at  last  terms  of  agreement  were  found  which  were  declared  to  be 
alike  honorable  to  both  bodies,  and  the  union  was  consummated. 
Unfortunately,  in  Southwest  Missouri,  as  elsewhere,  a  large  ele- 
ment of  the  church  has  followed  the  leadership  of  those  who  pro- 
claim that  they  are  not  in  accord  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Some  of  these  laymen  bear  the  names  of  fathers  of  the  church,  who 
were  largely  instrumental  in  planting  the  church  and  some  of  them 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  329 

have  themselves  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  perpetuating  the 
church.  Some  of  the  churches  that  have  been  the  scenes  of  marvel- 
ous displays  of  Divine  grace  are  not  with  us.  We  cherish  for  them 
the  kindliest  of  feelings.  Their  resplendent  history  is  the  heritage 
of  the  united  church  as  well  as  that  of  the  body  unfavorable  to  the 
union.  Pleasant  Hope  gave  to  us  B.  P.  Fullerton,  D.  D.,  and  Con- 
cord J.  M.  Hubbert,  D.  D.,  to  say  nothing  of  other  enrichments  to 
the  Kingdom  of  God  as  represented  by  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
U.  S.  A. 

In  this  volume  I  have  endeavored  to  accord  honorable  mention 
wherever  it  is  due.  I  have  not  stopped  to  ask  which  side  of  the 
union  question  the  valiant  soldiers  of  the  cross  were  on,  or  would 
have  been  on  had  they  lived.  Much  less  have  I  stopped  to  inquire 
as  to  whether  their  descendants  or  relatives  are  identified  with  the 
reunited  church. 

In  the  heat  of  controversy  men  are  sometimes  arrayed  on  the 
side  with  which  they  have  little  natural  affinity.  Some  have  been 
deluded  by  the  charge  that  we  were  trying  to  coerce  them.  Others 
have  fancied  that  to  surrender  the  separate  existence  of  the  denom- 
ination in  which  they  were  born,  together  with  their  distinctive 
name,  would  be  a  reflection  upon  their  fathers.  Time  alone  can 
vindicate  the  oft-repeated  assertions  of  leaders  in  the  reunited 
church,  cherished  by  the  rank  and  file,  that  those  opposed  to  the 
union  will  not  be  deprived  of  any  possessions  to  which  they  are 
legally  or  morally  entitled. 

And  time  alone  can  tell  whether  the  opposition  will  be  alike 
generous  where  they  receive  favorable  court  decisions.  It  may 
seem  like  presumption  for  a  stranger  to  attempt  to  say  what  the 
fathers  of  the  church  in  Southwest  Missouri  would  have  done  had 
they  continued  until  this  day.  And  yet  from  what  I  know  of  their 
sterling  regard  for  the  Superior  Courts  of  their  church,  I  verily  be- 
lieve they  would  have  been  with  us  on  this  issue.  The  Nestor  of 
them  all.  Rev.  A.  A.  Young,  is  on  record  as  to  his  attitude  to  the 
Superior  Court.  I  quote  from  his  biography :  ' '  Ozark  Synod  met 
in  the  town  of  Verona,  Lawrence  county,  Missouri,  on  Friday  pre- 
ceding the  fourth  Sunday  in  October,  1872.  *  *  *  Ozark 
Presbytery,  at  some  of  its  past  sessions,  had  received  some  preach- 
ers from  the  Methodist  Church  without  requiring  them  to  adopt 
the  Confession  of  Faith.  At  this  meeting  of  the  Synod  Ozark 
Presbytery  was  called  on  to  give  an  account  for  their  work,  aud 
were  ordered  by  the  Synod  to  require  those  brethren  who  had 
come  from  the  Methodist  Church  to  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith 
at  their  next  regular  meeting.  Out  of  this  grew  considerable  de- 
bate. Some  of  the  brethren  were  of  opinion  that  it  was  wrong  to 
make  such  a  requirement,  but,  after  sometime  spent  in  debate,  Mr. 
Young,  who  was  a  member  of  Ozark  Presbytery,  arose  and  said : 


330  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

'Brethren,  we  have  done  wrong  in  this  matter,  and  over  this  wrong 
done  by  the  Presbytery,  some  bad  blood  has  developed  itself  among 
some  of  the  brethren,  and  as  we  have  done  wrong  in  the  whole 
matter,  let  ns  now  repent,  and  undo  what  we  have  done  wrong. 
Let  us  obey  the  behests  of  our  Synod,  correct  the  wrong,  and  be 
more  careful  in  the  future  not  to  do  wrong.'  " 

From  the  grave  in  fancy  I  can  hear  the  voice  of  Mr.  Young 
saying:  "The  Cumberland  Church  first  proposed  this  reunion. 
The  constitutional  number  of  Presbyteries  ratified  the  terms.  Our 
highest  church  court  declared  the  union  effected.  Let  us  obey  the 
behests  of  our  General  Assmebly. " 

Doubtless  our  eyes  will  see  the  day  when  some  of  these  old 
Cumberland  strongholds  will  awaken  to  the  facts  that  we  have  no 
inclination  toward  coercion,  that  the  things  in  which  we  agree  are 
incalculably  greater  than  our  imaginary  differences,  and  that  we 
belong  to  one  Presbyterian  household,  dismembered  for  a  time  by 
reason  of  family  dissensions,  but  reunited  forever  for  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  extension  of  His  Kingdom.  Then,  as  we  shall  review 
the  labors  of  Young,  Johnston,  the  Buchanans,  Montgomery,  Amos, 
Burton,  Garrett,  Sims  and  Browne  in  the  ministry,  and  of  Dan- 
forth,  Ritchey.  Dysart,  Holland,  the  Gibsons.  McCanses,  Fuller- 
tons,  Alsups,  Hillhouses  and  Perkins  in  the  laity,  we  will  exclaim: 
"Forsan  et  haec  olim  meminisse  juvabit." 

Of  the  four  Presbyteries  in  Southwest  Missouri,  Neosho  alone 
entered  the  union  in  possession  of  the  records  and  with  previously 
elected  officers.  The  vote  stood  17  to  4  in  favor  of  union.  All  the 
ministers  present  voted  in  the  affirmative.  One  minister  who  was 
absent  when  the  vote  was  taken  subsequently  refused  to  answer 
to  roll  call  because  the  Presbytery  acknowledged  allegiance  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A. 

Ozark  Presbytery  voted  against  the  union.  The  Presbytery 
met  at  New  Bethel,  Dade  county,  August  28,  1906.  When  the  re- 
tiring moderator.  Rev.  W.  E.  Shaw,  asked  for  the  calling  of  the 
roll,  the  stated  clerk  "challenged  the  right  of  the  following-named 
ministers  to  seats  in  the  Presbytery  on  the  ground  that  they  had 
withdrawn  from,  and  renounced  all  allegiance  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  had  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U. 
S.  A.:  The  Revs.  C,  J.  Allen,  J.  E.  Johnston.  W.  C.  Mahr.  W.  R. 
Russell.  R.  J.  Sims.  C.  W.  Smith.  J.  S.  Stapleton,  D,  X.  Woods. 
G.  F.  Harbour  and  T.  S.  Brown.  The  moderator  sustained  this 
challenge,  whereupon  Rev.  J.  E.  Johnston  made  a  statement  to  the 
effect  that  the  aforesaid  ministers  and  a  number  of  elders  were, 
present  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  and  proceeding  with  the 
business  of  the  Ozark  Presbytery  'A  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
TT.  S.  A.,  and  requested  the  privilege  of  a  few  minutes  in  which  to 
effect  the  organization.     This  was  refused.     He  then  called  upon 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  331 

all  who  were  determined  to  abide  by  the  action  of  the  church  in 
consummating  the  union  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  meet 
him  immediately  in  the  church  yard  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
the  Presbytery. ' '  To  this  call  there  was  an  immediate  response  by 
Revs.  C.  J.  Allen,  G.  F.  Harbour,  J.  E.  Johnston,  W.  C.  Mahr,  W. 
R.  Russell,  C.  W.  Smith  and  J.  S.  Stapleton,  and  Elders  J.  W.  Mc- 
Donald, J.  A.  McConnell,  J.  M.  McCall,  H.  H.  Steele,  T.  E.  Bell,  L. 
B.  Doran,  J.  C.  Turk,  W.  M.  Hayter,  S.  W.  Barker,  M.  C.  Riggs, 

D.  H.  Paul  and  C.  F.  Wheat.  There  in  the  twilight  they  assembled 
and  proceeded  to  organize  by  electing  Rev.  W.  C.  Mahr  moderator 
and  Rev.  W.  R.  Russell  stated  clerk.  It  is  evident  that  three  of 
the  challenged  ministers  were  not  present  at  this  session,  and  there 
were  on  the  roll  two  aged  ministers  and  one  out  of  the  state  who 
were  not  challenged  by  either  side.  After  organization  the 
Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet  in  Golden  City.  The  next  morning 
at  Golden  City  this  resolution  was  adopted : 

"Whereas,  The  following  ministers,  to  wit,  J.  F.  Daughtrey, 
G.  T.  Jeffers,  J.  T.  Jones,  C.  G.  L.  McMahan,  R.  S.  Ramsey,  W. 

E.  Shaw  and  I.  V.  Stines,  have  renounced  the  action  of  the  late 
General  Assembly  of  the  C.  P.  Church  at  Decatur,  111.,  and  the  au- 
thority of  the  united  church,  which  is  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U. 
S.  A.,  and  organized  a  separate  Presbytery. 

"Resolved,    That  their  names  be  dropped  from  our  roll." 

At  the  time  of  this  disruption  Rev.  R.  J.  Sims  was  making 
some  historical  investigations  and  had  in  his  possession  certain 
minutes  of  the  Presbytery  embracing  as  late  as  the  spring  session 
■of  1900.  These  have  fallen  into  my  hands,  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  T.  E.  Whaley  I  have  also  secured  the  volume  contain- 
ing the  minutes  of  1847-1856,  so  that  I  have  had  access  to  the  min- 
utes from  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  in  1837  (then  called 
'Neosho)  to  1900. 

One  volume  of  the  minutes  of  Springfield  Presbytery:  1846- 
1872,  and  a  few  loose  minutes  have  fallen  into  my  hands.  The 
rest  were  retained  by  those  opposed  to  the  union. 

The  Springfield  Presbytery  voted  against  the  union  by  a  ma- 
jority of  one.  The  fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  1906,  convened 
in  Seymour.  When  the  time  came  to  call  the  roll  the  question 
was  raised  as  to  whether  or  not  this  Presbytery  would  abide  by 
the  Decatur  Assembly.  The  moderator  declared  that  he  was  con- 
vening a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Assembly.  Those  who  ad- 
hered to  the  decision  of  the  Decatur  Assembly  then  asked  for  the 
privilege  of  organizing  as  a  Presbytery  under  the  united  church. 
This  request  was  denied.  They  then  asked:  "May  we  have  the 
privilege  of  quietly  withdrawing?"  This  request  was  granted, 
and  as  they  left  the  room  those  who  remained  sang  the  Doxolosy. 
The  ministers  who  walked  out  were :  J.  T.  Bacon,  W.  J.  Bruce, 


332  Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks 

J.  H.  Doran,  A.  J.  Graves,  W.  C.  Hicks,  J.  A.  McCroskey,  G.  W. 

Phimmer  and  J.  E.  F.  Robertson.  Rev.  J.  P>.  Lcmmon,  D.  P. 
Royer  and  E.  W.  Sage  wore  not  present,  but  abided  by  this  action. 
The  Presbytery  was  then  constituted  in  the  Methodist  Church  and 
this  resolution  was  adopted : 

"Whereas,  The  retiring  moderator,  the  Rev.  T.  C.  Newman, 
declared  that  it  is  his  purpose  and  the  purpose  of  the  brethren 
whose  names  are  hereinafter  given  to  repudiate  the  action  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  C.  P.  Church,  meeting  at  Decatur,  111.. 
May,  1906,  on  the  question  of  union  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
U.  S.  A. 

"Resolved.  That  the  names  of  the  following  ministers  be 
dropped  from  our  roll:  J.  H.  Barnett,  Joseph  Davis.  A.  B.  Moore, 
T.  C.  Newman,  J.  A.  Russell  and  M.  F.  Wells." 

As  to  the  West  Plains  Presbytery  I  have  had  access  only  to 
the  minutes  after  the  disruption.  The  Presbytery  convened  at 
Alton  September  6,  1906.  The  stated  clerk,  W*  S.  Kincaid  called 
the  Presbytery  to  order,  thus  challenging  the  right  of  the  moder- 
ator, Rev.  J.  D.  White,  to  act.  In  the  colloquy  which  ensued  an 
appeal  was  made  to  the  trustees  of  the  church  and  they  decided 
that  those  opposing  the  union  should  have  the  use  of  the  building. 
'The  moderator  called  on  union  men  to  retire  to  the  church  yard, 
and  in  the  street  by  the  light  of  a  lantern  the  moderator  called 
the  Presbytery  to  order."  Rev.  J.  D.  White  was  continued  as 
moderator  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Glick  was  elected  stated  clerk.  The 
roll  call  showed  the  following  ministers  present :  J.  M.  Glick  and 
J.  D.  White.  Absent :  W.  A.  Denly  and  H.  W.  Rose.  Congrega- 
tions represented :  Hickory  Grove,  by  A.  L.  Giffof d ;  Mammoth 
Spring,  Elmer  Cooper ;  Mountain  View,  C.  E.  Fillman ;  Pleasant 
Valley,  H.  T.  Snyder ;  West  Plains,  J.  W.  Hill.  Congregations  not 
represented:  Alton,  Bennett,  Cabool,  Elk  Creek,  Eminence,  Lib- 
erty, Little  Springs,  Mountain  Grove,  Peace  Valley,  Pine.  Willow 
Springs,  Winona." 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  The  following  rfiinisters,  W.  S.  Kincaid.  J.  H. 
Martin  and  L.  L.  Whitehead  declared  themselves  out  of  harmony 
with  the  higher  courts  of  the  church  and  refnsed  to  have  their 
names  enrolled  with  the  united  church.  Therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  the  names  of  the  above  ministers  be  dropped 
from  the  roll  of  the  West  Plains  Presbytery  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  IT.  S.  A.,  subject  to  th<j  annr.oval  of  the  Cumberland 
Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  IT.  S.  A.,  of  Missouri." 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  333 

The  ministerial  roll  of  1906  as  reported  to  the  Assembly,  and 
according  to  alignment  at  the  fall  Presbyteries,  was  as  follows : 

Presbytery  Whole  Number        With  the  Union  Against    Retained  on  both  rolls 

Neosho 9  8  1 

Ozark 20  10  7                   3 

Springfield  17  11  6 

West  Plains 7  4  3 

Totals  53  33  17  3 

Of  the  three  ministers  retained  on  both  rolls  one  is  a  non-resi- 
dent and  I  have  not  been  able  to  reach  his  by  mail.  The  others  are 
unable  to  attend  Presbytery  by  reason  of  the  infirmities  of  age. 
Thns  it  will  be  seen  that  while  only  one  Presbytery  voted  for  the 
union,  the  union  forces  had  a  majority  of  the  ministers  in  each 
Presbytery. 

Both  sides  adopted  the  policy  of  retaining  all  the  churches  on 
their  respective  rolls,  and  the  final  alignment  of  some  of  the 
churches  is  yet  indefinite.  The  membership  in  many  of  the 
churches  is  sadly  divided,  and  I  have  no  way  of  determining  ac- 
curately the  relative  strength  of  the  two  sides.  But  as  the  united 
church  is  ministering  to  the  churches  in  all  of  the  cities  and  larger 
towns,  with  only  a  small  remnant  in  these  places  opposing  the 
union,  it  is  probably  a  conservative  estimate  to  say  that  two  thirds 
of  the  membership  is  now  co-operating  with  the  united  church. 


334  .'RlfSBYTERIANISM    IN    THE    OZARKS 


CHAPTER  V. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HISTORIC  CHURCHES. 

The  early  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Churches  in  Southwest 
Missouri  were  sometimes  the  progeny  and  sometimes  the  progen- 
itors of  camp  meetings.  They  were  organized  in  the  country, 
covered  a  large  extent  of  territory  and  became  the  rendezoon  for 
the  faithful  for  miles  around.  The  oldest  organization  io  which 
I  have  found  any  trace  is 

CENTER  CREEK.     (JASPER  COUNTY.) 

The  sessional  records  state  that  this  church  was  organized 
September  17,  1834,  by  Rev.  A.  Buckhanon,  B.  L.  Pearson,  J. 
Blair  and  A.  A.  Young.  Mr.  Young  was  at  this  time  only  a 
licentiate.  When  he  settled  on  Spring  River  in  1837  according  to 
his  biography  "the  nearest  church  was  about  eighteen  miles  from 
where  Mr.  Young  lived.  This  church  was  on  Center  creek  in  what 
is  now  Jasper  county.  *  *  *  Out  of  Center  creek  congregation  has 
grown  the  following  churches  viz.  Clear  Creek,  Peirce  City, 
Ritchey,  Mt.  Comfort,  Newtonia,  Sarcoxi  e,Bethel  and  Spring 
River."  The  churches  enumerated  are  in  at  least  three  different 
counties  and  I  am  unable  to  state  just  how  close  was  their  relation 
to  the  Center  Creek  church  but  doubtless  the  Sarcoxie  church  at 
least  was  originally  within  the  confines  of  the  Center  Creek 
church.  Indeed  Sarcoxie  was  first  called  Centerville.  The 
county  hostorian  says:  "Why  it  was  so  called  we  could  not  as- 
certain unless  it  was  because  it  was  half  way  between  Springfield 
and  the  end  of  the  world.  It  is  the  oldest  town  in  Jasper  county 
and  was  the  hottest  point  in  Southwest  Missouri  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war.  Prior  to  the  war  it  was  of  more  political  im- 
portance than  Carthage.     It  has  always  been  and  is  still  the  srate- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  335 

way  to  Jasper  county."  The  first  church  edifice  in  the  township, 
according  to  this  same  authority,  was  erected  by  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterians  in  1867.  But  too  much  reliance  must  not  be  placed 
on  th's  statement  for  he  confesses  his  lack  of  acquaintance  with 
early  ecclesiastical  conditions  in  these  words:  "The  religious 
history  of  Jasper  county,  so  far  as  concerns  the  organization  of 
churches  and  the  erection  of  houses  of  worship  may  properly  be 
said  to  have  begun  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Existing  organ- 
izations had  become  so  scattered  that  reorganization  became 
necessary."  I  am  unable  to  say  whether  the  Center  Creek  church 
had  a  house  of  worship  before  the  war  or  not.  But  there  are  evi- 
dences that  it  was  A  tower  of  strength  in  early  days.  The  church 
was  reorganized  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Young  in  1867.  Like  many  of  its 
contemporaries  its  glory  is  largely  of  the  past  and  it  now  main- 


KICKAPOO— MOUNT   COMFORT.      (GREENE  COUNTY.) 

"Sometime  during  or  immediately  after  the  war  of  1812,  a 
band  of  the  Kickapoo  tribe  of  Indians  built  a  town  on  the  present 
site  of  Springfield,  which  they  occupied  for  several  years.  The 
population  of  this  town  at  one  time  was  about  500 — at  least  it  num- 
bered 100  wigwams.  The  Kickapoos  ranged  north  and  northeast 
of  this  town  principally,  and  the  large  prairie  south  of  Springfield 
was  called  for  them,  and  the  'Kickapoo  prairie'  was  more  widely 
known  in  1824  than  it  is  now.  This  portion  of  Southwest  Missouri 
was  afterwards  often  called  the  Kickapoo  Country.'  " — His.  of 
Greene  County,  p.  126. 

On  the  27th  of  July,  1835,  Rev,  Andrew  Buchanan  organized  a 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  named  Kickapoo. 
The  articles  of  agreement,  names  of  the  charter  members  and  his- 
toric statements  are  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  This  entry  in 
the  sessional  record  is  headed  "Kickapoo  Prairie,"  but  doubtless 
the  name  designated  a  much  larger  territory  then  than  it  does  now. 
However,  from  the  distant  congregations  that  were  "stricken  off" 
from  Kickapoo,  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  conjecture  that  the  orig- 
inal congregation  covered  half  a  county.  Springfield  was  yet  in 
swaddling  bands.  Nine  days  before  the  organization  of  this  church 
the  County  Court  had  appointed  a  commissioner  "to  lay  off  the 
town  and  sell  lots."  The  county  seat  had  previously  been  located 
here,  but  as  there  were  grave  doubts  as  to  the  final  boundaries  of 
the  county,  lots  were  rather  a  drug  in  the  market. 

According  to  the  Greene  County  History  (p.  899)  :  "The  first 
church  building  was  a  log  house  erected  in  1837.  The  present  one 
is  a  frame  structure,  costing  $800,  built  in  1859."  But  this  sketch 
places  the  organization  in  1834  instead  of  1835,  as  per  the  records, 


3j6  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

and  gives  ;i  list  of  charter  members  very  different  from  thai  in  the 
records.  This  old  church  \v;is  the  scene  of  the  labors  of  such  pio- 
neers as  Revs.  Andrew  Buchanan,  T.  M.  .Johnston,  A.  A.  Young,  C. 
C.  Williamson,  W.  J.  Garrett  and  I).  \Y.  Amos.  The  New  Provi- 
dence Church  was  "stricken  off"  in  1837,  and  in  1S44  the  Spring- 
field Church  was  organized.  The  name  was  changed  to  Mount 
Comfort  in  1847(f).  Mr.  Williamson  appears  as  moderator  of  the 
session  from  the  3d  of  July.  1846,  to  the  16th  of  September,  1864. 
Doubtless  his  was  the  longest  term  of  service  of  any  minister  who 
has  shepherded  this  Hock.  From  its  eldership  this  church  sent  Rev. 
R.  J.  Sims  into  the  ministry,  and  in  this  old  church  B.  P.  Fullerton 
practiced  his  gifts  in  the  tender  years  of  his  ministry.  Let  me 
commend  to  the  present  generation  the  following  sessional  record: 

"April  23d,  1841. 

Session  of  Kiekapoo  congregation  met  at  the  houst  of  David 
Headlee,  composed  of  the  following  persons  (to  wit)  :  Brothers 
Win.  Dysart,  David  Headlee  and  S.  G.  Headlee,  and  was  examin- 
ed on  the  Book  of  Discipline  and  Confession  of  Faith.  The  ses- 
sion was  examined  by  C.  C.  Porter,  minister. 

The  session  then  elected  S.  G.  Headlee  their  stated  clerk  of 
said  session.    Session  then  adjourned." 

NEW  SALEM— NEOSHO.     (NEWTON  COUNTY.) 

At  the  first  session  of  the  Presbytery  of  Neosho  in  the  spring 
of  1837,  arrangements  were  made  for  the  organization  of  the  New 
Salem  Church  by  Rev.  J.  W.  McCord.  It  was  formed  by  striking 
off  the  southwest  section  of  the  Center  Creek  congregation.  The 
name  of  this  church  was  changed  to  Neosho  after  a  few  years. 

WASHBURN'S  PRAIRIE.     (BARRY  COUNTY.) 

At  the  same  session  of  the  Presbytery  that  provided  for  the 
organization  of  New  Salem  congregation  provision  was  made  for 
the  organization  of  Washburn's  Prairie  by  striking  off  the  south- 
east part  of  Center  Creek  congregation.  This  church  may  be  called 
the  mother  of  Barry  county  churches. 

SHILOH— POMME  DE  TERRE— PLEASANT  HOPE.      (POLK 

COUNTY.) 

Organized  the  15th  of  July,  1837,  and  having  successively 
borne  three  names,  this  church  has  probably  withstood  the  ravages 
of  time  better  than  any  other  country  church  in  the  Cumberland 


Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks  337 

annals  of  Southwest  Missouri.  The  name  of  William  A.  Allen 
heads  the  list  of  the  elders  of  this  church,  as  it  does  also  that  of 
the  Kickapoo  Church,  and  among  the  eldership  at  least  three  have 
answered  to  the  name  of  Fullerton  and  two  to  that  of  Alsup.  From 
time  to  time  the  church  has  been  served  by  such  men  of  apostolic 
fervor  as  Kevs.  J.  D.  Montgomery,  A.  A.  Young,  R.  J.  Sims,  D.  W. 
Amos  and  J.  B.  Fly.  Here,  too,  Rev.  R.  D.  Smith  preached  and 
founded  a  school,  1849-53,  and  Rev.  B.  P.  Fullerton  spent  some  of 
the  days  of  his  early  ministry.  In  1840  the  name  was  changed  from 
Shiloh  to  Pomme  de  Terre.  and  forty-five  years  later  the  name  was 
changed  to  Pleasant  Hope.  Among  the  most  pleasant  associations 
of  the  church  are  the  old  Pomme  de  Terre  camp  meeting  grounds 
and  the  Pleasant  Hope  Academy.  "In  1868  the  old  shed  was  re- 
moved from  the  camp  ground  and  placed  west  of  the  old  Acad- 
emy, and  a  great  revival  was  soon  held."  This  was  under  the  min- 
istry of  Rev.  R.  J.  Sims.  The  educational  interest  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  community  were  conserved  for  many  years  and  a  num- 
ber of  Cumberland  Presbyterian  ministers,  some  of  them  of  con- 
siderable ability,  received  their  first  taste  of  a  higher  education 
here. 

NEW  PROVIDENCE.     (GREENE  COUNTY.) 

At  the  second  session  of  the  Presbytery,  September  27,  1837,  it 
was  "Resolved,  That  a  new  congregation  be  stricken  off  from 
Kickapoo  congregation,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  New  Prov- 
idence congregation,  to  embrace  all  that  part  of  Kickapoo  congre- 
gation lying  east  of  the  line  dividing  ranges  22  and  23  west,  and 
that  Brother  J.  W.  McCord  attend  to  the  organization  of  it."  The 
Presbytery  was  then  in  session  in  the  house  of  Josiah  F.  Danforth, 
and  on  the  same  day  the  church  was  organized.  For  more  than  the 
allotted  span  of  a  human  life  the  church  has  been  teachnically 
known  by  its  christening  name,  but  the  rank  and  file  of  the  people 
to  this  day  call  it  the  Danforth  Church.  Whilst  the  Danforths  and 
the  earlier  Dillards  lived  the  old  church  was  the  scene  of  precious 
spiritual  manifestations;  but  for  years  a  feeble-  remnant  have 
sighed  at  the  mention  of  former  glory. 

SPRING  RIVER— ZION.     (LAWRENCE  COUNTY.) 

In  a  record  made  September  25,  1874,  this  statement  occurs: 
"Zion  is  a  part  of  "Spring  river."  I  have  beeen  involved  in  no 
little  perplexity  in  my  efforts  to  determine  whether  or  not  the 
two  are  identical.  Persons  with  whom  I  have  consulted  have  not 
been  as  clear  in  their  minds  as  I  could  have  wished  they  were. 
But  personal  interviews,  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  and  the 


338  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

biography  of  A.  A.  Young  have  led  to  this  conclusion:  The 
church  was  originally  organized  under  the  name  of  Spring  River. 
Tin-  congregation  was  scattered  over  a  large  territory.  Great 
camp  meetings  were  held  on  the  old  Spring  River  camp  grounds. 
Subsequently  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  somewhat  remote 
from  the  hallowed  spot  where  these  camp  meetings  were  held, 
;iml  in  this  new  location  the  name  of  Zion  was  adopted.  The 
biography  alluded  to  in  an  appendix  treating  of  the  Monument 
Association  heads  the  minute,  "Zion  Church,  May  8th,  1880,"  and 
continues:  "Pursuant  to  a  call  of  Spring  River  congregation," 
etc.  The  new  Presbytery  of  Carthage  started  out  with  the  name 
as  Spring,  bid  in  1908  passed  to  Zion.  Rev.  A.  A.  Young 
organized  this  church  October  9th,  1837,  and  preached  there 
nearly  forty-three  years.  It  is  called  the  mother  of  the  Mount 
Vernon.  Big  Spring,  Yerona,  Aurora,  Mars  Hill,  Marionville, 
Ozark  and  Prairie  churches. 

GREENFIELD.     (DADE  COUNTY.) 

Before  the  town  of  Greenleld  was  in  existence  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  now  being  that  name  was  organized  in 
the  vicinity  of  where  the  town  now  stands.  In  1839  Rev.  J.  D. 
Montgomery  gathered  the  congregation,  "with  A.  M.  Long  and 
wife,  Joseph  Le  Master  and  wife,  M.  H.  Allison  and  wife,  J.  L. 
Allison  and  wife,  Rev.  J.  Weir  and  wife,  Leann  Dycus  and  Rev. 
J.  D.  Montgomery  and  wife  as  constituent  members."  In  1866 
the  church  was  reorganized,  the  members  having  been  scattered 
by  the  war,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1868-9  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500.  This  church  has  been  intimately  associated  with  the 
educational  interests  of  the  denomination  located  at  this  place.  It 
was  long  the  scene  of  the  labors  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Garrett. 

CUMBERLAND  UNION— BROOKLINE     (GREENE  COUNTY.) 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1841,  "a  petition  was  presented  from 
a  portion  of  the  members  of  New  Providence  congregation  pray- 
ing to  be  stricken  off  and  organized  into  a  new  congregation,  to 
be  known  by  the  name  of  Cumberland  union,  which  prayer  was 
granted,  and  Brother  C.  C.  Porter  was  ordered  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  said  congregation." — Minutes  of  .Presbytery.  The  first 
church  building — a  frame  structure — was  erected  in  1867  about  a 
mile  or  two  from  where  the  town  of  Brookline  now  stands.  Sub- 
sequently a  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  town  and  the  name 
of  the  organization  was  changed  to  Brookline.  A  quarter  of  a 
century  ago  this  church  was  self-sustaining  and  employed  is  pas- 
tor for  full  time.     Among  those  who  have  ministered  to  this  flock 


FTRST   C.   P.    CHURCH,    SPRINGFIELD 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  339 

in  earlier  days  are  Revs.  C.  C.  Williamson,  R.  J.  Sims,  D.   W. 
Amos.  J.  N.  Edmiston  and  J.  B.  Fly. 

SPRINGFIELD.     (GREENE  COUNTY.) 

The  First  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Chnrch  of  Springfield 
was  organized  May  19,  1844,  by  Rev.  S.  J.  Carthel  and  T.  M.  John- 
stone. During  the  civil  war  it  became  practically  extinct,  and 
was  reorganized  in  1868.  Its  struggles  to  secure  a  house  of  wor- 
ship are  alluded  to  elsewhere.  Among  its  former  pastors  are  two 
who  have  had  a  national  reputation  and  have  been  moderators  of 
the  General  Assembly — Revs.  J.  B.  Logan,  D.  D.,  and  M.  B.  De 
"Witt,  D.  D  The  General  Assembly  was  entertained  by  this  church 
in  1874  and  again  in  1902.  The  present  commodious  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected  in  1892.  Rev.  J.  T.  Bacon,  D.  D.,  has  been  pastor 
for  the  last  ten  years.  At  the  time  of  the  union  the  church  was 
decidedly  the  strongest  Cumberland  Church  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri. 

MOUNT  VERNON.     (LAWRENCE  COUNTY.) 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  April  4th,  1848,  Revs.  A.  A. 
Young  and  Abel  Burton  reported  the  organization  of  a  church  at 
Mount  Vernon.  It  was  an  offshoot  of  the  Spring  River  congrega- 
tion, and  attained  considerable  influence  prior  to  and  during  the 
civil  war.  It  was  admirably  located  in  a  strong  belt  of  Cumber- 
land Presbyterianism,  and  had  for  its  early  neighbors  the  mother 
church  on  the  south  and  the  Oakland  church  on  the  west,  within 
whose  confines  was  the  Spring  River  Academy.  William  Mc- 
Canse  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Mount  Vernon  Church  for  many 
years — how  many  I  cannot  say — but  before  the  civil  war  his 
benefactions  blessed  his  denomination  in  this  region  of  country. 


34Q  Presbyterianism  ix  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  VI. 


SKETCHES  OF  MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


ALEXANDER  ANDERSON  YOUNG. 

For  the  materials  of  this  sketch  I  am  indented  almost  solely 
to  a  little  volume  published  in  1881,  entitled  "Life  and  Labors  of 
Rev.  A.  A.  Young,"  by  Revs.  J.  B.  Fly  and  L.  A.  Dunlap.  The 
preface  of  this  volume  indicates  that  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
Mr.  Dunlap  Mr.  Young  started  an  autobiography,  which  the  in- 
firmities  of  age  and  the  approaching  dissolution  prevented  him 
from  completing.  Realizing  his  condition,  he  committed  the  ma- 
terial to  Rev.  J.  B.  Fly,  with  the  request  that  he  prepare  the  same 
for  publication.  Mr.  Fly  took  charge  of  the  papers  and  called  to 
his  assistance  the  prime  mover  in  the  undertaking.  Rev.  L.  A. 
Dunlap.  There  are  a  few  discrepancies  between  the  volume  and 
the  records  as  to  dates,  etc.,  and  I  infer  that  the  authors  relied 
upon  the  memory  of  Mr.  Young  in  these  instances  and  did  not 
consult  the  records.  The  story  of  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in 
Southwest  Missouri  in  its  beginning  and  in  its  rise  from  the  ruins 
of  the  civil  war  is  more  firmly  interwoven  with  the  story  of  the 
life  of  this  servant  of  God  than  with  that  of  any  other  man — 
mayhap  than  with  that  of  any  other  three  men.  His  parents  were 
converted  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Alexander  Anderson  in  the 
great  revival  in  1800.  When  a  son  was  born  to  them  April  10th, 
1805,  they  named  him  in  honor  of  their  spiritual  father,  and  in 
keeping  with  this  propitious  beginning  they  kept  the  heavenly 
fires  burning  on  the  altar  and  indoctrinated  the  future  minister  in 
the  Scriptures  and  the  Catechism.  When  the  Cumberland  Church 
was  organized  they  became  identified  with  the  same  and  shared 
its  privations  and  its  fortunes.  In  1819  they  moved  from  their 
Tennessee  home  to  the  Territory  of  Missouri  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  Saline  county.  Here  there  were  no  churches  and  no  Sab- 
bath Schools,  but  the  residents  solicited  ministers  from  a  distance 
to  hold  a  camp  meeting.     Hither  a  few  families    gathered    and 


Presbyteriaxism  in  the  Ozarks  341 

pitched  their  tents.  So  sparsely  was  the  country  settled  that 
there  was  hut  one  house  in  five  miles  of  the  place,  and  all  told 
there  were  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  persons  in  attendance. 
After  deep  conviction  and  many  doubts  A.  A.  Young,  then  a  lad 
of  16  or  17  years,  \v;is  converted  and  was  ready  to  unite  with  the 
church  had  there  have  been  such  an  organization.  Sometime 
after  this  his  parents  moved  to  Lafayette  county,  where  the  re- 
ligious advantages  were1  but  little,  if  any.  better.  Soon  the  Spirit 
of  God  began  to  strive  with  the  young  man  and  he  felt  called  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  But  he  resisted  the  call.  One  excuse  after 
another  presented  itself.  His  education  was  defective.  He  was  not 
yet  a  member  of  the  church.  His  parents  gave  him  a  tract  of  land 
in  Johnson  county  and  he  became  the  proud  possessor  of  several 
good  horses,  so  that  he  was  expecting  great  temporal  prosperity. 
He  took  part  in  prayer  meetings  and  on  one  occasion  used  a  text 
and  tried  to  preach.  The  effort  was  a  great  failure,  at  least  so 
he  thought.  But  even  this  would  not  stifle  his  convictions  as  to 
his  duty  to  preach.  Then  all  his  horses  died  save  one.  On  this 
one  he  started  away  from  home  on  Sabbath  morning.  His  pious 
mother  remonstrated  with  him  for  this  act  of  Sabbath  desecra- 
tion and  begged  him  to  go  to  church.  Her  appeals  were  not  in 
vain.  On  the  road  to  church  he  contrasted  his  obedience  to  his 
mother  with  bis  disobedience  to  his  Heavenly  Father.  His  losses 
presented  themselves  as  chastisements,  and  he  said:  "Now,  Lord, 
if  Thou  hast  called  me  to  preach,  give  to  me  a  demonstration  of 
that  fact.  Thou  hast  killed  all  my  horses  but  the  one  I  am  riding. 
Kill  him  and  I  will  be  satisfied."  The  horse  took  sick,  and  think- 
ing the  Lord  was  taking  him  at  his  word,  he  retired  to  a  secluded 
spot,  placed  himself  on  the  altar  and  asked  the  Lord  not  to  kill 
the  horse.  This  prayer  was  heard  and  he  was  permitted  to  ride 
the  horse  for  a  long  time  in  carrying  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation 
from  place  to  place.  In  the  fall  of  1831  he  was  received  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Lexington  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  The 
Presbytery  ordered  him  to  ride  the  circuit,  and  his  time  was  fully 
occupied  in  preaching  and  in  study.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1833,  he 
was  licensed.  The  following  February,  in  company  with  Rev.  B. 
H.  Pierson,  be  started  south  and  traveled  as  far  as  Cane  Hill,  Ar- 
kansas. The  Presbytery  of  Washington  sent  him,  in  company 
with  Guilford  Pylant.  on  an  itinerating  tour  in  Southwest  Mis- 
souri and  Northern  Arkansas.  Where  Springfield  now  stands 
they  found  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  small  store  and  a  few  log  cabins. 
The  people  were  eager  for  the  Gospel  and  would  ride  from  five 
to  ten  miles  to  a  week-day  appointment.  The  missionaries  found 
a  few  Cumberland  Presbyterian  families,  who  were  rejoiced  to 
find  a  minister  of  their  own  faith  and  order.  They  were  kind- 
hearted  and  hospitable.     Their  food  was  usually  venison,  turkey 


342  Presbyterianis.m  in  the  Ozarks 

and  cornbread.  The  missionaries'  horses  were  lariated  in  order 
that  they  might  subsist  on  the  green  grass.  After  six  months' 
labor  Mr.  Young  returned  to  Johnson  county  and  entered,  with 
about  seven  others,  a  private  theological  school  conducted  by  Rev. 
R,  D.  Morrow.  "In  February,  1836,  Mr.  Young,  Rev.  T.  M.  John- 
ston and  Mr.  R.  C.  Ewing,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  concluded 
to  spend  a  few  weeks  in  Southwest  Missouri  before  the  spring 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  After  many  hardships  through 
swollen  streams  and  almost  impassable  roads  they  arrived  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Springfield.  Upon  inquiry  they  found  there 
were  three  ministers  in  the  bounds  of  what  was  subsequently 
known  as  Ozark  Synod.  Here  they  held  meetings  wherever  they 
could  gather  a  congregation  until  the  time  for  Presbytery.  Mr. 
Young  was  ordained  April  23,  1836,  and  about  a  week  later,  in 
company  with  Rev.  T.  M.  Johnston,  returned  to  Southwest  Mis- 
souri, the  scene  of  his  life's  labors.    His  biographers  say:     "The 

Ozark  Presbytery  met  this  fall  (1836)  on  the day  of , 

at  the  residence  of  Alfred  Moore,  on  Spring  River,  in  Barry 
county.  There  were  five  ministers  in  the  bounds  of  this  Presby- 
tery. They  were  all  present."  The  blanks  as  to  day  and  month 
indicate  that  the  records  were  not  before  the  writers.  But  there 
are  other  lapses  of  memory.  The  Presbytery  was  first  called 
Neosho,  not  Ozark,  and  it  was  organized  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in 
March,  1837.  There  is  no  intimation  in  the  records  that  Mr. 
Young  was  present  at  this  first  session.  But  at  the  second  session, 
September  27,  1837,  this  entry  was  made:  "Brother  Alexander 
A.  Young,  a  member  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  being  present,  was 
invited  and  took  his  seat  as  a  corresponding  member."  The  rec- 
ords fail  to  state  when  he  became  a  member,  but  the  inference  is 
that  he  united  at  this  session,  for  he  was  at  once  actively  identified 
with  the  work  of  the  Presbytery,  and  is  recorded  as  one  of  the 
two  ministers  who  met  without  a  quorum  at  the  time  for  the  next 
session. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1837,  Mr.  Young  married  Miss  Ann 
Steel,  of  Greene  county,  and  in  the  spring  took  his  bride  to  the 
farm  in  the  confines  of  the  present  Lawrence  county,  where  they 
lived  together  for  forty-three  years.  Mr.  Young  was  a  shining  il- 
lustration of  a  type  that  is  now  practically  extinct,  i.  e.,  the 
farmer  preacher  that  is  a  success.  Primitive  Cumberland  Presby- 
terianism  had  no  strong  board  of  domestic  missions  to  sustain 
its  missionaries.  Its  adherents  on  the  frontier  handled  but  little 
money.  Their  history  was  "the  short  and  simple  annals  of  the 
poor."  Men  like  Mr.  Young,  strong  in  body,  in  mind  and  in 
Spirit,  toiled  with  their  hands  in  season  and  preached  "in  season 
.and  out  of  season."  The  times  have  changed.  The  people  are  now. 
well  able  to  sustain  the  ordinances  of  God's  house.     The    public 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  343 

schools,  rural  delivery  of  mail,  and  the  ubiquitous  printing  press 
are  with  us.  The  thirst  for  the  instructions  of  the  sanctuary  is 
not.  therefore,  as  keen.  Men  do  not  go  in  uncomfortable  con- 
veyances and  over  rough  roads  for  miles  to  a  mid-week  service. 
The  demands  on  the  ministry  are  different,  but  scarcely  less  ex- 
acting. The  opportunities  for  ministerial  education  are  greater. 
The  intellectual  demands  and  the  need  of  spiritual  culture  are 
greater.  And  the  success  of  *a  secularized  ministry  is  a  thing  of 
the  past.  The  learning  of  this  lesson  was  a  painful  process  in 
this  church.  The  Cumberland  historian,  McDonald,  in  his  vol- 
umnous  work,  published  in  1888,  has  one  chapter  entitled,  "Th& 
Transition  from  Missionary  Evangelists  to  Paid  Pastors."  From 
this  chapter  I  quote  at  length : 

"When  the  Second  Cumberland  Presbyterian  General  Assem- 
bly met,  1830,  this  opposition  to  the  pastoral  office  had  reached  its 
zenith.  That  General  Assembly,  by  a  large  majority,  voted  to  sub- 
mit to  the  Presbyteries  the  question  of  striking  out  of  the  form 
of  government  the  whole  section  recognizing  the  pastoral  office. 
*  *  *  There  were  only  eighteen  Presbyteries;  of  these  only 
two  voted  for  the  striking  out  of  the  chapter.  Thirteen  voted  no. 
Three  made  no  report.  *  *  *  The  effort  was  never  renewed, 
but  year  after  year  the  feeling  grew  in  the  General  Assemblies 
that  the  regular  pastoral  office,  in  its  true  sense,  would  have  to 
be  established.  *  *  *  Very  few  of  the  early  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  ministers  had  any  correct  idea  of  the  true  nature  of 
the  pastor's  office.  When  the  necessity  for  real  pastorates  was 
urged,  many  seemd  to  think  that  installation  was  all  that  they 
lacked.  The  people  soon  understood,  however,  that  he  who  served 
them  under  the  name  of  a  pastor,  was  in  fact  but  a  secularized 
supply  who  preached  on  the  Sabbath  and  then  went  back  to  his 
worldly  pursuits.  In  many  cases  these  preachers  rode  eight  or  ten 
miles  on  Sabbath  morning  to  their  appointments  and  rode  back 
Sabbath  evening.  *  *  *  Even  now  the  truth  is  but  slowly 
dawning  upon  our  people  that  pastor  and  evangelist  belong  to  two 
very  different  vocations.  The  standards  by  which  the  churches 
have  usually  judged  of  a  man's  fitness  for  the  pastor's  work  are 
standards  which  belong  rather  to  the  other  vocation,  that  of  the 
evangelist.  To  preach  thrilling  popular  sermons,  to  attract  a 
great  crowd,  to  gather  in  many  wealthy  members,  to  build  a  fine 
meeting  house — such  things  as  these  have  been  regarded  the  ne 
plus  ultra  of  pastoral  success.  There  may  be  no  systematic 
beneficence  in  the  congregation,  no  entire  personal  consecration 
to  Christ's  service  in  the  daily  practical  life  of  any  member;  the 
missionary  spirit  may  be  wanting  in  both  pastor  and  people;  no 
child  of  the  church  may  ever  go  to  labor  among  the  heathen 
or  enter  the  holy  ministry;  family  prayers,  may  be  neglected  in 


344  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  households,  and  the  members  be  untaught  in  the  great  fund- 
amental truths  of  Christianity ;  there  may  be  as  little  separa- 
tion from  the  ways  of  a  godless  world  as  the  devil  himself  could 
wish — still  if  attractive  sermons  draw  great  crowds  and  a  hand- 
some salary  is  paid  the  man  who  occupies  the  pulpit  is  regard- 
ed by  many  as  a  successful  pastor.  Ah!  the  great  day  will  re- 
verse many  a  human  verdict.  *  *  *  Let  a  man  who  knows 
what  real  pastoral  work  is  studiously  avoid  all  sensational  dis- 
courses and  all  mere  spasms,  and  set  himself  to  work  earnestly 
to  organize,  drill,  train,  and  indoctrinate  his  flock  in  real,  per- 
sonal consecration  to  Christ ;  let  him  strive  to  cultivate  love  to 
Jesus  by  enlisting  every  member  of  the  Hock  in  a  thorough  study 
of  the  Bible,  and  in  active  efforts  to  do  good  and  win  souls,  and, 
in  a  large  majority  of  cases,  the  church  will  rebel.  This  is  not 
what  they  want;  they  want  to  be  thrilled  with  eloquence  on  the 
Sabbath  and  left  to  themselves  through  the  week.  That  the 
Pastor's  office  is  the  most  difficult  and  important  of  all  hu- 
man callings  can  be  easily  proved.     *     *     * 

The  pastor  in  this  transition  period  had  to  unteach  some 
wrong  lessons  which  the  church  had  learned.  The  silence  of  the 
pioneer  preachers  about  money  had  created  a  strong  opposition 
to  paying  preachers.  This  existed  not  only  among  the  covetous 
and  the  worldly,  but  among  people  who  had  considerable  rep- 
utation for  piety.  Indeed  congregations  that  were  celebrated 
for  demonstrations  of  religious  ferver  were  often  the  very  ones 
which  gave  the  least  money.  All  the  first  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian preachers  started  wrong.  Bitterly  did  our  old  man  re- 
gret their  failure  to  teach  and  train  the  people  in  this  duty,  but 
their  regrets  came  too  late.  It  will  take  several  generations  yet 
to  get  rid  of  the  leaven  of  their  example.  In  the  midst  of  the 
great  congregation  at  Big  Spring.  Thomas  Calhoun,  near  the 
close  of  his  life,  used  substantially  these  words:  'I  am  now  old, 
and  must  soon  go  to  meet  my  .Judge.  I  have  been  one  of  the 
actors  in  establishing  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
in  all  that  pertains  to  its  early  history.  I  have  a  clear  con- 
science save  only  about  one  thing.  We  have  all  failed  to  do  our 
duty  in  training  the  people  to  pay  their  preachers.  I  have 
lived  to  see  the  ruinous  consequences  of  that  failure  and  I  don't 
want  to  die  without  confessing  my  sin  in  this  matter  in  the  most 
public  manner  possible.'  So.  too,  did  Ewing  and  others  make 
public  confession.     But  it  came  too  late.     The  evil  continues." 

By  the  time  the  church  was  planted  in  Southwest  Missouri 
the  change  on  this  subject  was  manifest.  As  indicated  on  a  pre- 
vious page,  the  Presbytery  required  its  ministers  to  preach  on 
the  duty  of  supporting  the  gospel.     Yet  it  may  be  that  Dr.  Mc- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  345 

Donald's   description   of   the   transition   period   is    applicable   to 
this  as  to  other  parts  of  the  church. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  Mr.  Young  was  in  full  accord  with 
these  changing  views  of  his  church.  The  early  records  show 
that  Presbytery  excused  him  for  not  complying  with  the  order 
to  preach  on  the  subject.  And  I  have  had  oral  testimony  thta 
corroborates  my  inference.  It  is  true  he  received  some  pecu- 
niary compensation  for  his  services  and  that  he  made  a  report 
to  the  Presbytery  in  which  he  recommended  churches  to  sus- 
tain those  serving  them.  He  was  evidently  very  successful  in 
raising  money  for  church  buildings  and  debts.  But  his  main  re- 
liance for  the  support  of  his  family  was  on  his  farm.  And  my 
impressions  are  that  his  precepts  accorded  with  his  example. 

In  passing  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  if  the  people  are  to 
have  right  conceptions  about  the  gospel  ministry  being  entitled  to 
support  from  ordination  to  the  grave,  the  ministry  must  regard 
the  sacred  calling  as  one  entitled  to  their  whole  time  and  tal- 
ents. The  days  of  the  successful  farmer-preacher  are  past.  The 
biographers  of  Mr.  Young  state  that  when  he  settled  on  the 
farm  that  was  to  be  his  home  until  he  was  transferred  to  the 
New  Jerusalem ;  the  nearest  church  was  Center  Creek,  and  that 
this  and  New  Providence  were  the  first  Cumberland  Churches 
in  Southwest  Missouri,  adding :  These  churches  were  organized 
in  the  territory  where  Mr.  Young  labored  during  the  first  years 
of  his  work  in  Southwest  Missouri,  and  from  these  two  churches 
have  grown  all  the  churches  in  this  country.  We  have  seen, 
however,  that  the  New  Providence  Church  was  "stricken  off" 
from  Kickapoo  in  1837.  and  that  Mount  Comfort  is  the  same 
as  Kickapoo.  Inasmuch  as  New  Providence  was  formed  out  of 
Kickapoo  and  probably  soon  became  the  strongest  church  in 
Greene  county,  and  as  the  name  Kickapoo  was  changed  to  Mt. 
Comfort,  it  is  cpiite  natural  that  the  name  Kicpakoo  should  have 
escaped  Mr.  Young's  memory  and  that  he  should  have  remem- 
bered New  Providence  and  thought  of  Mount  Comfort  as  a  sub- 
sequent organization.  In  the  list  of  ministers  that  have  served 
the  Mount  Comfort  Church  the  history  of  Greene  county  men- 
tions first  William  Piland  and  then  Anderson  Young,  and  states 
that  the  church  "was  organized  in  1834  near  where  the  Pres- 
byterian church  iioav  stands  under  a  brush  arbor."  *  *  * 
This  church  was  first  called  Kesteopoor  Congregation.  Piland 
and  Kisteopoo  are  probably  typographical  errors.  But  this  is 
as  good  a  place  as  any  to  remark  that  the  sketches  of  churches 
in  county  histories  of  Southwest  Missouri  counties — and  I  have 
examined  a  number  of  them — are  not  accurate.  The  official 
records  indicate  that  Kickapoo  was  organized  in  1835  by  Rev. 
Andrew  Buchanan.     And  the  name  of  Anderson  Young  does  not 


}.|6  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

appear  as  moderator.  His  biography  slates  that  he  and  Guil- 
ford Pylanl  visited  this  section  in  ls:i4.  They  may  have 
preached  in  the  vicinity  before  and  after  the  organization,  hut 
it  is  improbable  thai  cither  was  the  pastor  or  minister  in  charge. 
Of  the  Center  ('reck  Congregation  grew  the  Spring  River 
Congregation,  which  "was  organized  by  Mr.  Young  on  the  9th 
of  October,  1837.  From  this  church  sprang  the  churches  of 
Mt.  Vernon,  Big  Spring.  Verona,  Aurora.  Mars  Hill,  Marion- 
villc  Ozark,  Prairie.     (Biography  of  A.  A.  Young). 

Tlie  Spring  river  church  was  subsequently  known  as  Zion. 
Here  Mr.  Young  was  an  under  shepherd  for  nearly  forty-three 
years.  Quoting  again  from  his  biography:  "The  ministers  of 
( )zark  Presbytery  petitioned  the  Arkansas  Synod  to  divide 
Ozark  Presbytery  into  three  parts,  to  be  known  as  the  Presby- 
teries of  Ozark,  Springfield,  and  Neosho.  The  Synod  granted 
the  prayers  of  the  petitioners  and  at  the  fall  session  of  the 
Synod  in  1835  Ozark  Presbytery  was  divided,  and  nut  of  the 
territory  was  constituted  Ozark,  Springfield  and  Neosho  Pres- 
byteries. At  the  spring  session  of  these  newly  constituted 
Presbyteries,  in  the  year  1836  a  memorial  was  sent  from  these 
Presbyteries  to  the  General  Assembly,  asking  that  body  to  or- 
der the  constitution  of  a  New  Synod  to  be  known  as  the  Ozark 
Synod  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  The  prayers 
of  the  petitioners  were  granted,  and  accordingly  the  Ozark 
Synod  was  constituted  in  the  month  of  October,  1837." 

(By  a  suprising  lapse  of  memory  this  would  divide  the 
Presbytery  into  three  before  its  actual  organization.  These 
statements  are  inconsistent  with  other  parts  of  this  biography 
as  well  as  contrary  to  the  records.  In  the  fall  of  1846  Arkansas 
Synod  authorized  the  division  w^hich  issued  in  the  existence  of 
Ozark  and  Springfield  Presbyteries.  Neosho  Presbytery  was  or- 
ganized by  reason  of  an  enabling  act  passed  by  the  Synod  in 
1851  and  the  Synod  of  Ozark  was  created  in  1852). 

The  country  was  developing  rapidly  and  the  demand  for 
preaching  services  increased.  More  reapers  for  whitened  har- 
vest fields  were  sadly  needed.  Community  after  community  was 
saying,  "Come,  give  us  a  two-days'  meeting,  once  in  every  six 
months,  if  you  cannot  come  oftener.  Mr.  Young  lived  on  his 
farm  in  the  country.  He  was  usually  away  from  his  home  from 
two  to  four  days  every  week  attending  his  appointments."  He 
occasionally  made  a  general  round  of  all  the  churches  in  Ozark 
Synod  and  held  sacramental  meetings  once  a  year.  These  ex- 
cursions extended  from  the  Gasconade  river  on  the  east  to  the 
Indian  Territory  on  the  west,  and  from  the  Osage  river  on  the 
north  to  the  Arkansas  line  on  the  South.  At  almost  every  com- 
ing together   of  the   church   there   wrere   conversions   and   addi- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  347 

tions.  Meantime  the  demands  of  a  growing  family  were  press- 
ing and  at  times  it  seemed  that  he  would  be  driven  to  give  up 
these  missionary  labors.  "But  always  just  at  this  point  the 
brethren  would  come  to  the  rescue  by  giving  him  what  assist- 
ance they  could.  *  *  *  His  dear  companion  and  partner  in 
all  of  his  difficulties  (Aunt  Ann)  had  much  to  do  with  Mr. 
Young's  success  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  She  carried  for- 
ward the  work  and  business  of  the  farm  vigorously  in  the  ab- 
sence of  her  husband."  *  *  *  "There  is  one  spot  on  earth 
near  where  Mr.  Young  lived  that  is  regarded  as  almost  holy 
ground  by  the  people  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
throughout  tbis  entire  country.  I  refer  to  the  old  Spring  River 
Camp  ground.  During  the  early  history  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  county  thousands  of  souls  were 
converted  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Young  at  that  camp 
ground.  Here  for  many  years  the  people  would  assemble  for 
the  worship  of  God.  They  would  leave  their  homes  and  all 
their  property  and  come  together  for  their  yearly  feast.  They 
were  not  afraid  to  leave  all  with  God,  and  they,  their  wives,  and 
their  little  ones  go  to  serve  God  in  their  camp  meetings." 
*  *  *  The  church  grew  and  multiplied  rapidly  under  the 
ministry  of  Abel  H.  Burton.  Solon  B.  Abernathy,  T.  B.  Sitton, 
Mr.  Young  and  others  in  this  country  until  it  was  thought  that 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  had  the  pre-eminence  in 
all  this  country."  Probably  by  this  last  clause  the  biographer 
has  reference  to  Lawrence  county  with  at  least  parts  of  Dade, 
Jasper.  Newton  and  Barry  counties.  The  Civil  war  broke  in  on 
the  church  when  it  was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity.  Mr. 
Young  sided  with  the  Union  and  for  a  time  was  compelled  to 
seek  refuge  within  the  lines  of  the  United  States  army  at 
Springfield.  His  great  influence  made  him  a  shining  mark,  and 
conservative  though  he  was,  the  Confederate  soldiers  regarded 
him  as  a  dangerous  man  to  their  cause.  Subsequently  he  went 
to  Rolla.  lived  in  banishment  for  a  time — preached  to  "refu- 
gees" and  returned  home  stealthily.  Two  armies  had  devastat- 
ed the  country  and  in  their  wake  came  a  third  more  to  be  dread- 
ed than  either— the  "Guerillas."  "In  the  fall  of  1864  *  *  * 
Revs.  C.  C.  Williamson  and  R.  J.  Simms  appointed  a  meeting  to 
be  held  in  Mt.  Vernon.  *  *  *  A  few  days  before  the  time 
for  this  meeting  to  commence  General  Sterling  Price  made  an- 
other raid  through  the  State  of  Missouri,  *  *  *  and  in 
consequence  of  this  Mr.  Williamson  and  Mr.  Simms  both  failed 
to  attend  their  meeting.  Mr.  Young  attended  this  meeting 
alone.  *  *  *  The  working  male  members  of  the  church 
were  mostly  girded  up  with  weapons  of  death.  *  *  *  Just 
before  the  time  came  to  close  the  meeting,   the  power  of  God 


3-j8  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

came  like  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  and  it  idled  the  place  where 
they  were  sitting.  *  *  There  stood  up  an  exceeding  great 
army  of  witnesses  for  Jesus.  The  meeting  not  only  affected  the 
town,  but  it  reached  to  the  country  for  miles  around.  Aftep 
the  meeting  had  continued  for  about  two  weeks  it  invaded  the 
tanks  of  the  army,  and  some  of  the  soldiers  fell  like  dead  men 
before  the  Divine  Power.  When  the  anxious  were  called,  and 
the  altar  of  peace  was  filled  with  strong-hearted  men  and  sol- 
diers armed,  *  *  *  Mr.  Young  would  first  pass  around 
among  them  and  disarm  them,  to  prevent  any  accidents,  then 
he.  with  his  working  force,  would  encourage  and  instruct  the 
anxious    to    close    with      offered      salvation    now.     *     *  The 

meetings  continued  for  more  than  three  weeks. 
There  were  about  one  hundred  converts,  and  about  sixty  of  that 
number  joined  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  * 
Before  the  meeting  closed  Mr.  Young  raised  one  thousand  dol- 
lars in  money  and  good  subscriptions  to  satisfy  a  debt  hanging 
over  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  property  in  the  town 
of  Mt.  Vernon."  The  ravages  of  war  left  but  two  ministers  in 
the  bounds  of  Ozark  and  Neosho  Presbyteries.  Mr.  Young  at- 
tached himself  temporarily  to  the  Springfield  Presbytery.  ''He 
had  the  entire  territory  of  what  was  before  the  war  the  Presby- 
teries of  Ozark  and  Neosho,  but  at  the  close  of  the  war  a  deso- 
late, burned  and  devastated  district  of  country.  *  *  *  This 
entire  territory  was  left  to  Mr.  Young.  It  is  true  Mr.  Simms 
labored  some  with  Mr.  Young  in  this  territory,  but  his  work  was 
then  confined  to  the  territory  north  and  east  of  Springfield." 
In  young  manhood  he  had  helped  to  make  "The  wilderness 
blossom  as  the  rose."  But  now  that  his  head  was  silvered  the 
garden  of  roses  was  burned  over.  And  the  planting  must  begin 
anew.  In  this  work  he  was  hindered  by  the  "iron  clad  oath"  in 
the  new  constitution  of  the  state,  which  he  believed  subverted 
the  first  principles  of  free  government  and  would  drive  the  gos- 
pel from  the  State.  But  the  State  failed  in  her  effort  to  come, 
into  compact  with  the  United  States  until  she  restored  religious 
liberty,  and  now  the  difficulty  was  with  the  ministers  who  were 
yet  on  the  war  path.  The  territory  of  Ozark  Synod  was  at- 
tached to  Missouri  Synod,  and  Springfield  Presbytery  embraced 
the  southwest  part  of  the  State.  At  the  spring  session  in  1866, 
Mr.  Young  and  Rev.  A.  Delzell  were  appointed  to  "travel  in 
the  destitute  portions  of  the  Presbytery  for  the  next  six 
months."  Like  Paul  and  Barnabas,  they  visited  the  brethren  in 
every  place  when1  they  had  hitherto  preached  the  word.  They 
had  protracted  meetings,  resuscitated  moribund  churches  and 
ministered  to  the  people  in  their. homes  wasted  by  war  and  pil- 
lage.    Again  in  the  spring  of  1867  Mr.  Young  was  appointed  on 


I'resbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  349 

a  similar  mission.  This  time  his  traveling  companion  was  Rev. 
Garnett  Davenport.  So  extensive  was  their  field  that  it  requir- 
ed two  months  to  make  one  round.  Yet  with  Pauline  fervor 
and  endurance  they  went  forward.  And  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
was  with  them  and  multitudes  were  obedient  to  the  faith. 

Mr.  Young  continued  his  work  in  the  bounds  of  Spring 
River  congregation  from  the  fall  of  1867  to  the  spring  of  1869. 
Then  the  Springfield  Presbytery  appointed  him  to  travel 
throughout  its  bounds  to  solicit  money  to  liquidate  the  debt  of 
the  Springfield  Church.  "He  told  them  that  he  had  been  a 
long  time  in  the  field,  and  that  most  of  his  life  had  been  spent 
in  missionary  work.  He  felt  like  that  he  would  not  live  many 
years;  that  his  family  had  undergone  all  the  hardships  incident 
to  the  life  of  a  minister  in  a  frontier  country  and  that  he  was 
preparing  that  year  to  build  a  house  for  himself  and  Aunt  Ann 
to  die  in,  and  that  he  hoped  the  Presbytery  would  not  think  of 
sending  him  again  into  the  missionary  work."  But  the  Presby- 
tery could  not  excuse  him.  Rev.  John  Hudson  was  appointed 
to  fill  his  place  for  six  months  in  the  home  church  and  Mr. 
Young  was  obedient  to  the  Presbytery,  and  successful  in  his 
efforts.  The  work  of  the  Presbytery  had  so  grown  out  of  the 
desolations  that  in  the  spring  of  1871  the  three  Presbyteries  of 
Springfield,  Ozark  and  Neosho  were  constituted  as  of  yore  and 
the  Synod  of  Ozark  was  reorganized  at  Springfield  in  October, 
1871.* 

Mr.  Young  continued  in  the  active  ministry,  though  with 
failing  health  until  the  end  came,  March  13,  1880.  His  trium- 
phant death  recalls  the  words  of  the  great  apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles: 

"I  am  now  about  to  be  offered  and  the  time  of  my  de- 
parture is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
my  course.  I  have  kept  the  faith ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up 
for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness." 

On  the  15th  day  of  March,  1880,  a  funeral  discourse  was 
delivered  in  Zion  church  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Ply  and  the  body  was 
interred  in  the  adjoining  cemetery.  To  Mr.  Fly  he  had  com- 
mitted the  material  for  a  sketch  of  his  life  and  to  him  he  had 
commended  his  beloved  Zion  church,  saying:  "You  take  charge 
of  my  church.  I  have  preached  for  them  for  forty-three  years, 
but  my  work  is  done;  in  a  short  time  I  will  be  at  home."  On 
the  8th  of  May,  1880,  an  association  was  formed  to  place  a  mon- 
ument at  his  grave.  Popular  subscriptions  were  made  through- 
out the  bounds  of  the  three  Presbyteries,  and  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  James  M.  White,  Rev.  J.  B.  Fly  and  Geo.  W.  Rinker 
selected  the  monument. 


350  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

"Life's  labor  done  as  sinks  the  clay, 
Light  from  its  load  the  spirit  flies, 
While  heaven  and  earth  combine  to  say 

How  blest  this  righteous  when  he  dies." 

JAMES  BELL  LOGAN. 
(Written  by  W.  C.  Logan.) 

Rev.  James  Bell  Logan,  D.  D.,  who  labored  for  a  dozen 
years  in  Southwestern  Missouri,  was  born  in  Limestone  county, 
Alabama,  December  18,  1820.  *  *  *  When  about  four  years 
of  age  his  father  moved  to  East  Tennessee  with  the  expectation 
of  securing  some  Indian  land  which  had  been  put  on  the  market 
and  known  as  the  Hiwassee  Purchase.  *  *  *  All  the  avail- 
able land  had  been  purchased  before  his  arrival  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  lease  school  land  under  adverse  circumstances.  Here, 
toiling  night  and  day,  to  help  his  father,  young  James  lived  un- 
til he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  At  this  time  his  father  moved 
some  sixty  or  seventy  miles  west,  into  what  was  called  the  Cher- 
okee country,  where  the  family  lived  for  seven  years,  having  at 
first  no  neighbors  to  speak  of  except  the  Indians.  *  *  *  In 
the  spring  of  1842  they  moved  to  Lawrence  county,  Missouri, 
near  King's  Point.*  There  a  cabin  was  erected,  and  about  half 
the  floor  laid  when  the  father  died,  leaving  James  as  the  one 
upon  whom  the  family  cares  rested. 

His  mother  was  a  sufferer  from  asthma,  and  there  were  a 
younger  brother  and  a  sister  to  care  for. 

At  this  time  James  was  about  22  years  old.  He  purchased 
some  improved  land,  to  pay  for  which  he  taught  school  in  a  Mr. 
Carr's  house.  It  was  here  that  he  met  Miss  Mary  Stephenson, 
with  whom  he  was  united  in  Marriage  February  16,  1843.  Two 
girls  wore  born  to  them.  When  Spring  River  Academy  was 
built  he  was  put  in  charge,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  for  a 
number  of  ears,  and  until  a  Mr.  King  from  the  east  took  his 
place.     Mr.  Logan's  wife  did  not  live  many  years. 

Mr.  Logan's  parents  were  converted  under  the  preaching 
of  Rev.  Robert  Donnell,  a  distinguished  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian minister  in  Alabama,  who  also  baptized  this  first-born 
son.  When  the  family  was  living  in  East  Tennessee,  religious 
privileges  were  few.  At  a  camp  meeting  held  by  Cumberland 
Presbyterians,  James,  then  about  twelve  years  old,  professed  re- 
ligion, and  about  a  year  later  joined  the  church.  In  his  sev- 
enteenth year  he  united  with  Presbytery  and  was  licensed  in  his 
twenty-first  year  by  Hiwassee  Presbytery.     After  going  to  Mis- 

*N.  B. — King's  Point  is  in  Dade  County,  not  far  from  Lawrence. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  351 

souri  he  was  ordained  by  Ozark  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  in  1843.  In  1849  the  General  Assembly 
met  at  Princeton,  Ky.,  and  Mr.  Logan  went  on  horseback  with 
a  family  of  Kimbros,  who  were  to  visit  relatives  near  Bowling 
Green.  After  the  Assembly  Mr.  Logan  went  to  Bowling 
Green,  that  he  might  return  with  his  companions  in  travel ;  but 
a  sick  child  of  theirs  delayed  the  return  journey.  Meantime  Mr. 
Logan  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Susan  Hendrick,  who 
became  his  bride  in  October  of  that  year.  He  took  his  bride 
back  to  Missouri  in  a  two-horse  wagon. 

In  1851  Mr.  Logan  traveled  four  months  in  the  interest  of 
a  mission  church  in  St.  Louis,  of  which  Rev.  J.  G.  White  was 
minister.  He  went  down  the  Missouri  river  from  Kansas  City 
to  Boonville,  visiting  the  camp  meetings  and  protracted  meet- 
ings in  the  interest  of  the  mission.  In  the  spring  of  1852,  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  many  of  his  ministerial  brethren,  he  lo- 
cated at  Lexington  and  started  a  church  paper,  called  the  Mis- 
souri Cumberland  Presbyterian.  His  expectations  concerning 
the  paper  were  not  realized,  owing  to  lack  of  proper  financial 
backing.  Rev.  C.  A.  Davis  was  his  pastor  here,  and  he  had  Hon. 
R.  C.  Ewing  for  a  neighbor.  After  a  year  he  moved  the  paper 
for  greater  convenience  to  St  Louis,  where  he  consolidated  it 
with  another,  the  united  paper  being  called  the  St.  Louis  Ob- 
server. Sickness  in  the  family  aud  otheir  reasons  caused  Mr. 
Logan  to  move  his  family  in  1855  to  Alton,  111.,  some  twenty- 
five  miles  up  the  Mississippi  river,  whither  he  took  his  paper 
the  year  following.  But  because  of  financial  conditions  he  sold 
out  the  paper  to  a  Mr.  Cox,  who  continued  it  for  some  time. 
There  were  other  ventures  made  in  journalism  which  were  a 
part  of  Mr.  Logan's  experience  during  his  stay  in  Alton  of  some 
nineteen  years.  In  fact,  he  was  connected  with  a  religious  jour- 
nal in  some  capacity  most  of  his  time. 

On  going  to  Alton  Mr.  Logan  assumed  charge  of  a  strug- 
gling mission,  without  house  and  with  very  few  members.  But 
he  remained  in  charge  for  seventeen  years,  during  which  time 
over  seven  hundred  professed  faith  in  Christ  in  connectiou  with 
the  services,  and  four  hundred  united  with  the  church  on  con- 
fession. While  here  he  wrote  a  number  of  books  which  were 
quite  popular  at  the  time  and  for  years  afterward.  These  were 
years  of  hard  struggle  aud  great  sacrifice,  yet  fruitful  in  good 
works.  For  years  he  was  connected  with  the  St.  Louis  Board 
of  Missions  as  President  and  Secretary,  and  in  1872  he  resigned 
his  pastorate  to  give  all  his  time  as  General  Superintendent  of 
the  Board  of  Missions.  In  1871  he  was  honored  by  his  church 
as  the  choice  for  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  which 
met  in  Nashville,  Tenn.     In  1875  he  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 


352  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

tor  of  Divinity  from  Lincoln  University.  Lincoln,  111. — a  school 
with  which  he  had  been  intimately  connected  from  its  founding. 
In  1874,  having  resigned  his  connection  with  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  at  Taylorville,  111.  Here 
he  Labored  successfully  till  called  to  his  reward,  September  14, 
1878.  His  remains  were  taken  for  burial  to  Alton,  111.,  the 
scene  of  so  much  of  his  life's  labors  and  successes.  His  last 
words  were,  "All  is  well." 

WILLIAM  J.   GARRETT. 

Rev.  William  J.  Garrett  was  born  on  a  Tennessee  farm  May 
4th,  1820.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  made  a  profession 
of  religion  and  soon  thereafter  placed  himself  under  the  care  of 
the  Elk  Presbytery,  C.  P.  His  education  was  obtained  under 
the  private  tuition  of  Rev.  Nelson  P.  Modrall.  after  which  he 
was  sent  by  his  Presbytery  as  a  missionary  to  Georgia.  In  com- 
pany with  Rev.  W.  W.  Hendrix  he  rode  a  circuit  of  two  hundred 
miles  and  preached  on  week  days  as  well  as  on  Sundays.  In 
March,  1843,  Mr.  Garrett  was  ordained  and  for  about  nine  years 
he  supplied  churches  in  his  native  state.  In  the  fall  of  1852.  ac- 
companied by  a  brother,  he  came  on  horseback  to  Southwest 
Missouri,  to  consider  the  spiritual  destitutions  of  this  region. 
The  field  was  inviting  to  one  wTho  sought  to  build  up  the  king- 
dom in  waste  places.  Mr.  Garrett  bought  a  farm  seven  miles 
north  of  Springfield,  returned  to  Tennessee  after  his  family  and 
in  the  fall  of  1853  returned  with  his  wife  and  four  children  to 
his  greene  county  farm.  Immediately  he  began  an  active  itin- 
eration and  ministered  to  numerous  congregations — notably 
Mt.  Comfort.  Walnut  Spring,  Pleasant  Hope,  New  Providence 
and  Springfield.  Induced  by  the  urgent  call  of  the  Greenfield 
Church,  and  the  superior  school  facilities,  there  in  the  fall  of 
1855,  he  sold  his  farm  and  began  his  monumental  work  in  Dade 
county.  Mr.  Garrett  was  much  in  demand  for  Sacramental 
meetings.  His  sermons  had  a  freshness  and  variety  that  at- 
tracted attention  and  were  delivered  with  great  unction.  He 
organized  and  established  various  congregations  in  Dade.  LawT- 
rence.  Barton  and  Cedar  counties,  and  preached  and  labored  for 
days  and  weeks  in  Marionville,  Aurora,  Verona,  Pierce  City, 
Sarcoxie,  Carthage.  Iantha,  Milford,  Mt,  Vernon,  Stockton,  Ash 
Grove,  Everton,  etc.,  as  well  as  many  rural  communities.  His 
last  work  was  at  Neosho,  Mo.  After  a  three  years'  pastorate 
there  he  yielded  to  the  weight  of  years  resting  so  heavily  upon 
him,  and  retired  from  active  duties.  He  returned  to  Greenfield 
and  resided  there  until  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1903.  Since  that 
time   he   has  made  his  home   with   his   oldest   son.   John   E..   in 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  353 

Springfield.  Mo.  Now  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age,  he  is 
still  able  to  read  and  to  meditate  on  the  ways  of  God  with  men. 
He  continues  to  walk  about  three  miles  daily.  Of  the  three  men 
whose  labors  were  truly  apostolic  in  the  planting  of  Cumberland 
Presbyterianism  in  Southwest  Missouri,  and  in  rehabilitating  it 
after  the  desolation  of  war,  Mr.  Garrett  alone  remains.  Young 
and  Montgomery  have  long  since  entered  into  their  reward.  Of 
the  three  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  Garrett  excelled  in  scholarly 
attainments  and  he  evidently  gave  more  attention  to  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  Southwest.  But  this  did  not  detract  in 
the  least  from  his  pulpit  work.  He  felt  like  Paul:  "Woe  is  me 
if  I  preach  not  the  gospel."  He  was  an  exemplary  Presbyter 
and  the  annals  of  his  Presbytery  give  evidence  of  his  punctual 
attendance  and  conspicuous  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
well  being  of  his  church.  Wise  in  counsel  and  versed  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  progress  of  his  church  he  was  frequently  sent 
by  Irs  brethren  as  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly. 

REV.   R.  J.   SIMS. 

"Let  the  elders  that  rule  well  be  counted  worthy  of  double 
honor."  As  an  elder,  R.  J.  Sims  obtained  a  <?ood  report.  He 
was  elected  to  that  position  in  the  Mount  Comfort  Congregation 
in  Williamson  county,  Tennessee,  in  1852,  and  in  1856  was  elect- 
ed to  a  similar  position  in  the  Mount  Comfort  church,  Greene 
county,  Missouri.  Gradually  he  began  to  perform  the  functions 
of  a  teaching  as  well  as  a  ruling  elder,  and  was  soon  ordained 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Before  and  after  the  war  his  lab- 
ors were  abundant  in  the  northeast  part  of  Greene  county  and 
in  other  parts  of  Southwest  Missouri.  But  while  his  work  in  the 
pastorate  is  worthy  of  mention  he  is  remembered  conspicuously 
as  a  type  of  new  kind  of  evangelist  in  the  church.  "A  natural, 
simple  manner  was  a  rare  things  in  those  days  of  pulpit  thun- 
der." The  incidents  that  follow  are  taken  from  McDonald's 
history : 

"One  of  our  aged  ministers  once  traveled  some  distance  to 
attend  the  meetings  of  Rev.  R.  J.  Sims.  *  *  *  There  was  an 
immense  congregation.  The  evangelist  made  a  very  simple, 
earnest  address  with  no  loud  tones,  violent  gestures  or  exciting 
appeals.  The  talk  was  conversational,  and  in  subdued  accents. 
Then  the  speaker  asked  those  occupying  the  four  pews  in  front 
of  the  pulpit  to  vacate  them,  to  accommodate  the  penitents.  To 
the  aged  preacher  who  sat  behind  the  evangelist  this  seemed  a 
foolish  proceeding.  'Four  seats  indeed!'  thought  he.  'If  one 
mourner  comes  forward  it  is  more  than  I  expect.'  The  evange- 
list said,  'Let  all  who  want  to  be  saved  here  today  come  quietly 


354  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

to  these  seats. '  In  a  few  moments  all  four  seats  were  filled ; 
then  four  more  were  called  for  and  filled ;  then  two  more.  The 
visiting  preacher  was  amazed — almost  frightened.  He  continued 
with  the  evangelist  a  week,  and  watched  him  closely,  to  find  out 
how  all  this  was  accomplished.  The  first  day  and  night  he 
found  that  the  evangelist  spent  about  six  hours  alone  in  prayer, 
and  that  he  gathered  two  or  three  chosen  ones  to  join-  him  in 
short,  special  prayers.  This  was  the  daily  programme.  The  se- 
cret of  his  success  was  that  God  was  with  him." 

"The  Rev.  R.  J.  Sims  was  holding  a  meeting  in  Arkansas. 
Two  sisters  were  attending,  one  a  Christian,  the  other  not.  The 
Christian  sister  asked  Sims  what  he  thought  about  fasting.  lie 
is  an  earnest  believer  in  its  efficacy.  He  gave  the  young  lady 
incidents  pointing  to  the  divine  blessing  on  fasting  as  a  means 
of  grace.  She  resolved  to  observe  a  protracted  season  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  for  her  sister's  conversion.  At  the  closing  hour 
of  her  appointed  fast  she  was  seated  beside  that  sister  in  the 
church.  Up  to  this  time  no  indications  of  any  answer  to  her 
prayer  had  been  given.  The  unconverted  sister  had  made  no 
public  demonstration  of  interest  or  concern ;  but  now  she  arose 
to  her  feet,  and,  extending  her  hand,  very  quietly  said.  "Your 
prayers  are  answered.     I  am  saved." 

"At  one  of  Mr.  Sims'  meetings,  a  woman  who  ridiculed  ex- 
perimental religion  carried  her  Bible  to  church  and  made  a  vigor- 
ous canvass  among  the  mourners,  trying  to  prove  that  the  minis- 
ter's teaching  about  repentance,  and  faith,  and  the  love  of  God  in 
the  heart,  were  unscriptural  and  false.  She  was  noisy,  insolent, 
and  persistent.  Sims  inquired  about  her  and  learned  that  her 
parents  were  good  Methodists.  Taking  an  elder  with  him  to 
the  grove  the  two  joined  in  prayer  to  God  for  the  fulfillment  of 
the  promise  made  in  Psalms  74:10-12.  The  meeting  went  on, 
and  the  mocker  pursued  her  opposition.  Then  her  daughter  was 
among  the  rejoicing  converts.  The  mother  railed  on  her.  argued 
with  her,  but  the  daughter,  after  hearing  respectfully  all  that 
her  mother  had  to  say.  replied  calmly:  'I  can  not  but  testify 
to  what  I  know  and  feel  in  my  own  soul.  I  know  I  am  happy 
in  Jesus.'  At  this  the  mother  fell  prostrate  and  began  praying 
for  salvation.  She  continued  to  seek,  until  she  was  enabled  to 
testify  before  the  whole  congregation  that  she  now  knew  for 
herself  the  reality  of  that  spiritual  experience  which  she  had 
ridiculed." 

"At  one  of  the  meetings  *  *  #  a  band  of  unconverted 
men  determined  to  break  up  the  meetings.  Sims  went  to  God  in 
fasting  and  prayer.  The  wife  and  daughter  of  the  ring  leader 
of  the  band  became  deeply  concerned  about  their  souls,  and 
went  to  the  mourner's  bench.      This   enraged  the  wicked   man. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  355 

At  the  next  service  he  took  his  stick  and  went  with  his  family 
to  church,  declaring  it  to  be  his  purpose  to  beat  the  preacher 
with  his  stick.  Sims,  who  had  just  ended  one  of  his  seasons  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  made  his  usually  solemn  though  simple 
talk,  and  then  started  through  the  congregation  to  the  spot 
where  the  man  with  his  stick  was  seated.  There  was  a  power 
in  the  preacher's  presence  which  made  this  boastful  opposer  of 
religion  tremble.  Along  with  this  power,  given  in  answer  to 
prayer,  the  minister  showed  that  fearlessness  which  the  con- 
scions  assurance  of  divine  protection  always  imparts.  As  Sims 
approached,  the  ruffian  retreated,  leaving  the  church  and  go- 
ing to  his  home.  The  wife  and  daughter  were  converted  that 
day  and  when  they  entered  their  house  they  found  the  wicked 
man  prostrate  in  prayer.  He  was  at  last  converted  and  went 
to  work  for  other  lost  souls.  He  held  prayers  in  his  family,  and 
gave  of  his  money  freely  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  Other  violent 
opposers  were  also  reached  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  became  part 
of  the  praying  band." 

For  some  years  Mr.  Sims  has  lived  in  retirement  in  Mount 
Vernon.  About  fifteen  years  ago  I  heard  him  preach  and  the 
quiet  pervasive  power  of  his  message  stamped  itself  upon  my 
memory  so  forcibly  that  I  recall  that  sermon  to  this  day. 

GEORGE  W.  BROWNE. 

The  religious  debater  belongs  to  a  species  that  is  practically 
extinct  and  if  here  or  there  a  living  specimen  is  discovered  he  is 
not  properly  regarded  as  an  example  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest. 
And  even  in  the  eocene  era  to  which  he  belonged  the  individual 
who  could  have  a  revival  follow  in  the  wake  of  his  discussions 
was  a  rarity.  Such  an  one  was  George  W.  Browne — probably 
the  ablest — most  aggressive  contender  for  the  faith  as  formulated 
by  the  C.  P.  Church  who  has  labored  in  Southwest  Missouri. 
Doubtless  religious  debates  were  at  one  time  essential.  They 
served  the  double  purpose  of  indoctrinating  the  masses  at  a  time 
when  religious  literature  was  not  so  plentiful,  and  they  made 
the  contending  hosts  careful  in  the  formation  and  perpetuation 
of  their  tenets  and  no  doubt  in  so  doing  lopped  off  some  excrec- 
ences  and  brought  the  denominations  in  this  indirect  way  into 
closer  vital  harmony.  To  George  W.  Browne  was  accorded  the 
task  of  indoctrinating  many  of  the  people  and  churches  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  Himself  the  son  of  a  manse  he  is  survived 
by  a  ministerial  son  who  is  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  union  of 
the  churches.  Mr.  Browne  was  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage — a  son 
of  one  of  the  pioneer  Cumberland  preachers,  and  was  born  in 
Crawford  county,  Mo..  Dec.  13,  1833.    At  ten  years  of  age  he  pro- 


356  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

fessed  a  saving  faith  in  Christ;  and  was  ordained  by  the  C.  P. 
Presbytery  of  St.  Louis  in  1862.  He  served  his  country  as  a  Un- 
ion soldier,  then  as  chaplain  from  '63  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
Denied  the  privileges  of  a  college  education  by  dint  of  hard 
study  he  acquired  a  mastery  of  the  English  language,  was  skilled 
in  dialectics  and  spoke  with  ease,  fluency,  persuasive  and  argu- 
mentative power.  An  ardent  admirer  says:  "As  a  theologian 
he  had  no  superior  in  his  church."  He  was  especially  versed 
along  controversial  lines  and  declared  that  if  the  Bible  were 
destroyed  he  could  reproduce  his  part  from  memory.  Mr. 
Browne  came  to  Southwest  Missouri  in  1874*  Here  he  located 
on  a  farm  near  Lockwood.  From  time  to  time  he  served  as 
stated  supply  the  churches  of  Greenfield,  Mt.  Zion,  Ash  Grove. 
Mt.  Vernon  and  Verona.  "But  he  was  mostly  an  evangelist 
most  all  his  life."  He  is  characterized  as  "doctrinally  evange- 
listic." and  is  said  to  have  possessed  great  spiritual  power. 

He  held  public  debates  with  debaters  of  the  Christian 
church  as  follows:  at  Mt.  Vernon  with  Caskey;  at  Aurora  with 
Cunningham;  at  "Walnut  Grove  with  Clark  Braden  and  at  Green- 
field with  James  Tennison. 

In  the  language  of  his  son:  "The  M.  E.  Church  at  Ked  Oak. 
Mo.,  had  been  ruined  by  the  Campbellites.  They  secured  G.  W. 
Browne  to  deliver  a  series  of  lectures  on  The  Church.  Baptism, 
etc.  A  worldly  farmer  and  stock  feeder  attending  became  in- 
tensely interested.  His  wife  a  bitter  Campbellite  refused  to  go 
until  near  the  end  and  hearing  that  Browne  would  prove  that 
Jesus  was  not  immersed  went  to  scoff  at  his  attempts.  *  *  * 
(I  will  give  her  own  words  about  as  she  told  them  to  do.)  'I 
had  never  met  your  father,  but  had  heard  he  was  always  fight- 
ing our  church.  I  just  hated  the  ground  on  which  he  walked.  I 
tried  to  keep  my  husband  from  going  to  hear  him  but  could  not. 
I  saw  he  was  intensely  interested.  I  went  the  night  he  was  to 
prove  Jesus  was  not  immersed  to  treat  him  with  contempt  and 
laugh  at  his  failure.  I  saw  a  gentleman,  humble,  learned,  pro- 
found, impressive  and  spiritual.  My  contempt  soon  turned  to 
admiration.  I  was  soon  lost  in  something  entirely  new.  I 
thought  the  church  house  was  a  wall  of  melting  wax  and  heaven 
was  coming  down  to  earth.  Soon  I  arose  and  said.  Brother 
Browne.  I  have  never  been  baptized.  I  want  to  be  baptized.  He 
baptized  me.'  Not  long  after  this  a  C.  P.  Church  was  organized 
at  this  place."  The  son  continues:  "In  October  1901.  I  *  *  * 
held  a  two  week's  meeting  and  organized  a  C.  P.  Church  at  We- 
tumka,  I.  T.,  *     *     *    I  met  a  Mr.  Mackey  there.     *     *     *      He 

*1S75  according  to  the  Biography  of  A.  A.  Young,  which  speaks  of  him 
as  a  valuable  accession  to  Ozark  Presbytery,  "a  man  of  great  intellectual 
ability  both  natural  and  acquired,  and  a  profound  theologian." 


J.    P.   FLY 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  357 

and  his  wife  went  into  the  organization.  *  **  *  He  told  me 
this  story,  'Your  father  came  to  my  father's  house  29  years  ago. 
*  *  *  Near  West  Plains,  Mo.,  held  a  meeting;  organized  a 
C.  P.  Church  and  out  of  that  organization  have  grown  five  other 
C.  P.  Churches  of  which  West  Plains  C.  P.  Church  is  one. ' ' 

Mr.  Brown's  last  and  ablest  discussion  was  on  the  subject 
of  "Justification."  The  Syllogistic  reasoning  of  this  debate  is 
so  close  and  the  various  parts  thereof  so  intimately  associated 
that  if  one  begins  to  quote  he  is  liable  to  be  betrayed  into  con- 
tinuing at  too  great  length.  The  discussion,  it  is  hoped,  will  be 
given  to  the  Christian  public  in  printed  form.  The  St.  Louis 
Presbytery  made  Mr.  Browne  a  life  member  of  the  Missionary 
Board  of  the  Cumberland  Church.  Mr.  Browne  died  February 
17,  1887.  The  following  March  the  Presbytery  gave  this  token 
of  esteem : 

"Whereas,  In  the  death  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Browne  this  Pres- 
bytery has  lost  one  of  its  most  honored  and  useful  members  and 
ministers,  and,  Whereas  ,we  as  a  body  desire  to  express  our 
appreciation  for  the  labors  of  this  very  dear  brother;  Therefore. 
Resolved,  that  Rev.  D.  W.  Cheek  and  Elders  Isaac  Preston  and 
J.  W.  Leathers  be  appointed  to  solicit  funds  for  the  erection  of 
a  suitable  monument  to  place  over  the  remains  of  our  departed 
brother  and  when  a  sufficient  sum  shall  be  provided  to  purchase 
the  same,  with  suitable  inscription,  approved  by  the  widow  of 
the  deceased." 

JOHN  B.  FLY. 

During  the  first  half  century  of  its  existence  in  Southwest 
Missouri — and  perhaps  a  little  longer — the  Cumberland  Church 
possessed  two  elements  of  strength,  an  unusual  number  of  able 
active  and  aggressive  laymen,  and  a  ministry  reared  largely  in  its 
own  churches.  The  sons  of  the  church — born  within  its  pale, 
baptized  at  its  altars  and  received  by  its  Presbyteries  as  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry  then  set  apart  by  solemn  ordination  to  the 
holy  office  were  to  the  Manor  born.  They  needed  not  to  be  accli- 
mated and  they  understood  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the 
people  on  the  borderland  and  on  the  crest  of  the  Ozarks. 

Rev.  John  B.  Fly,  the  son  of  J.  N.,  and  Nancy  Fly,  was  born 
in  Barry  county,  August  16,  1840.  and  was  reared  on  a  farm 
near  Corsicana,  Mo.  On  the  last  day  of  December,  1867,  he  pro- 
fessed saving  faith  in  Christ  and  united  with  the  Mount  Joy 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  for  nine  years  taught  school  in  Barry  and  Law- 
rence counties.     The  records  of  Springfield  Presbytery  state  that 


358  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

on  the  first  day  of  October,  1870,  J.  B.  Fly.  Baxter  Fullerton  and 
M.  J.  Scott  gave  evidence  of  their  experimental  knowledge  of 
religion  and  of  their  internal  call  to  the  ministry  and  were  re- 
ceived as  candidates.  Shortly  after  this  the  Presbyteries  were 
reorganized  along  the  lines  existing  prior  to  the  war  and  Mr. 
Fly  passed  under  the  Presbyterial  supervision  of  Neosho  Pres- 
bytery by  which  he  was  licensed  .March  17.  1871.  and  ordained 
March  17.  1872.  The  newspaper  clipping  from  which  I  received 
this  information  also  said  that  he  was  received  under  care  of 
Springfield  Presbytery  March  17.  1870;  but  the  records  of  the 
Presbytery  give  the  date  as  October  1st,  1870.  I  do  not  know 
whether  the  writer  in  question,  or  the  subject  sketched  was  a  de- 
scendant of  the  sons  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  or  whence  the  predil- 
ection for  the  day  sacred  to  the  Shamrock.  Like  his  contem- 
porary, Rev.  G.  W.  Browne,  Mr.  Fly  was  skilled  in  dialectics. 
He  was  considered  an  able  exponent  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible  as  taught  by  his  denomination  and  was  both  evangelistic 
and  doctrinal  in  his  preaching.  He  was  in  the  active  work  of 
the  ministry  from  1870  to  1903.  During  these  thirty-three  years 
he  held  eighteen  public  discussions  on  doctrine  themes  in  which 
it  is  said  he  "never  laid  his  honor  down  or  lowered  the  standard 
or  dignity  of  the  Christian  ministry,  his  opponents  themselves 
being  judges."  Mr.  Fly  was  elected  a  commissioner  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  six  times,  three  times  he  represented  Neosho  Pres- 
bytery, twice  he  represented  Ozark  Presbytery  and  once  he  rep- 
resented the  Presbytery  of  Wichita.  After  an  intensely  active 
ministry  of  about  thirty-three  years  Mr.  Fly  was  compelled  by 
the  infirmities  of  the  flesh  to  rest  from  his  labors  for  about  three 
years — calmly  waiting  until  he  should  see  his  Pilot  face  to  face. 
He  died  the  28th  of  August,  1905.  On  the  28th  of  March.  1858, 
he  led  to  the  matrimonial  altar  Miss  Susan  E.  Woodward.  With 
their  four  living  sons  and  three  daughters  she  survived  him.  In 
the  Mount  Joy  church  where  he  had  professed  his  Saviour  near- 
ly thirty-eight  years  before,  Rev.  W.  C.  Hicks  conducted  the  ser- 
vice over  his  remains. 

To  Mr.  Fly,  in  conjunction  with  Rev.  L.  A.  Dunlap.  we  are 
indebted  for  that  exceedingly  interesting  biography  entitled 
"Life  and  Labors  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Young."  Mr.  Young  had  col- 
lected the  materials  for  an  autobiography — but  when  it  became 
evident  that  he  would  not  be  spared  to  complete  the  work  he 
committed  the  materials  to  Mr.  Fly.  He  undertook  the  task  of 
publishing  the  memorial  Con  Amore  and  produced  a  work 
worthy  of  his  efforts  albeit  he  was  led  into  some  inaccuracies  as 
to  dates  and  minor  statements  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  neg- 
lected to  verify  Mr.  Young's  memory. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  359 

BAXTER  P.  FULLERTON 

Before  I  entered  the  ministry  most  of  the  ministers  that  I 
greatly  admired  and  who  left  the  deepest  impression  on  me  were 
men  with  whom  I  had  little  personal  contact.  The  same  is  true 
to  a  limited  extent  since  I  have  been  in  the  ministry.  There  may 
be  a  streak  of  heterodoxy  in  my  make-up.  But  when  I  sit  in  the 
pew  if  a  minister  feeds  my  soul  and  if  I  know  that  he  stands 
four-square  for  truth  and  righteousness — it  is  altogether  a  sec- 
ondary consideration  as  to  whether  he  ever  knows  me  by  sight, 
or  ever  greets  me  with  anything  more  than  a  formal  passing  of 
the  time  of  the  day.  Many  men  of  prominence  and  power  have 
a  reserved  disposition  and  are  so  preoccupied  with  larger  affairs 
that  they  have  failed  to  cultivate  those  characteristics  that  make 
a  man  one  of  the  common  folks.  For  one  I  can  greatly  admire 
such  a  man — though  at  a  distance.  If  he  shows  no  disposition  to 
get  near  me.  I  am  apt  to  show  none  to  get  near  him.  But  I  am 
just  as  sure  not  to  criticise  him  for  being  cold  until  I  have  started 
toward  him  and  gone  at  least  half  way.  The  intimacies  of  per- 
sonal friendship  are  one  thing;  an  appreciation  of  a  man  for  his 
work  and  worth  is  another  thing.  Of  the  prominent  men  in  our 
church  Dr.  Fullerton  is  one  of  the  most  approachable  with  whom 
I  have  formed  an  acquaintance.  In  the  corridors  where  the  As- 
sembly meets  in  a  committee  room,  on  the  floor  of  Synod  or  in 
your  own  home  he  is  always  plain  and  always  approachable.  He 
was  reared  in  the  foothills  of  the  Ozarks — near  Pleasant  Hope — 
then  called  Pin  Hook.  There  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  1851, 
Andrew  Washington  Fullerton  and  Harriet,  his  wife,  rejoiced  in 
the  birth  of  a  son.  whom  they  christened  Baxter.  W.  J.  Haydon, 
a  veteran  Sunday  school  missionary,  says  that  forty  years  ago 
he  found  him  a  bashful  barefooted  lad  and  enticed  him  into  Sun- 
day school  by  playing  with  his  dog  and  cat ;  and  Rev.  W.  C. 
Hicks  says  that  one  of  young  Fullerton 's  past-times  was  to  chal- 
lenge other  lads  to  eat  green  persimmons  to  see  which  could  look 
the  homliest.  We  have  no  accurate  information  as  to  whether  or 
not  the  narrator  of  this  incident  was  a  successful  competitor! 
For  three  and  a  half  years  Mr.  Fullerton  attended  McGee  Col- 
lege at  College  Mound,  Missouri.  How  far  beyond  amo,  amas, 
amat  he  delved  in  classic  lore  I  can  not  say,  but 

"In  the  spring  the  young  man's  fancies 
Lightly  turned  to  thoughts  of  love," 

and  although  the  college  ceased  to  be  in  1874  the  attachment 
formed  for  the  President's  daughter — Miss  Callie  Mitchell — out- 
lasted  the   institution  to  which  it   owed  the   opportunity  of  its 


360  Presbytbrianism  in  the  Ozarks 

birth  and  for  many  years  she  lias  been  t  lie  mistress  of  the  ma  use 

Deprived  of  this   first   college   home  he  then  entered  Drury 

College  and  graduated  in  1876.     Three  years  later  he  completed 

the   theological   course  at    Lebanon,   Tennessee.     The   degree  of 

Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his  Alma  .Mater 
ami  in  1908  he  received  the  Degree  of  L.  L.  I).  During  his  school 
days  \)v.  Fullerton  made  vigorous  exercise  of  his  pirplit  gifts.  He 
conducted  revival  meetings  in  various  parts  of  the  Presbytery 
and  for  three  years  supplied  the  Mount  Comfort  and  Pleasant 
Hope  churches.  At  the  close  of  his  seminary  course  he  took 
charge  of  a  mission  church  in  Kansas  City.  This  mission  had  the 
financial  backing  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington  and  was  under 
the  conjoint  guidance  of  the  Presbytery  and  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions. He  began  work  there  in  September.  1870.  without  the 
promise  of  any  definite  salary.  On  the  first  of  January.  1891.  he 
relinquished  the  work  in  Kansas  City  to  become  pastor  of  the 
Lucas  Avenue  church  in  St.  Louis.  This  pastorate  he  resigned 
August  1st.  1906.  to  accept  the  Field  Secretaryship  of  the  Board 
of  Missions  for  the  Southwest.  His  previous  training-  as  well  as 
native  gifts  admirably  adapted  him  to  this  work.  For  twelve 
years  he  was  President  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Missions  and  Church  Erection,  and  for  eight  years  he  was 
editor  of  the  Missionary  Record.  In  the  Cumberland  branch  of 
the  church  Dr.  Fullerton  was  one  of  the  potent  factors  in  the  re- 
union. I  have  heard  him  say  that  when  the  Presbyterian  church 
appointed  its  evangelistic  committee  he  said  to  himself  that  one 
plank  in  the  Cumberland  Platform  was  gone,  and  that  when  the 
Presbyterian  Church  revised  its  Confession  he  said  the  platform 
itself  is  getting  mighty  shaky.  When  then  the  Cumberland 
church  exhibited  such  men  of  piety,  zeal  and  soundness  of  learn- 
ing as  Dr.  Fullerton  we  said  they  look  just  like  ourselves,  we 
ought  to  get  together !  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  a  commis- 
sioner to  the  Reunion  Assembly  of  1907.  On  returning  home  I 
gave  my  congregation  a  report  in  which  I  said:  "The  next  as- 
sembly will  meet  in  Kansas  City  and  I  predict  that  a  Missouri 
man  will  be  Moderator" — having  in  mind  at  the  time  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  The  fulfillment  of  this  prophecy  is  a  matter  of 
history.  And  if  the  wise  supervision  of  Dr.  Fullerton  is  con- 
tinued in  the  Southwest  who  knows  but  what  these  hills  are  en- 
uring to  hardship  other  limbs  that  will  stand  up  under  the  strain 
of  responsibilities  of  leadership  in  the  reunited  church? 

GEORGE  F.  HARBOUR. 

If  gospel  fervor  makes  a   man   a   lineal   descendant  of  the 
early   Cumberland   Presbyterian   ministers   few   of  the   younger 


M.    A.    PRATER 


G.    L'\    HARBOUR 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  361 

men  in  the  ministry  in  Southwest  Missouri  can  claim  a  better 
title  to  that  descent  than  George  F.  Harbour.  I  asked  him  for 
facts  concerning  his  life  and  characteristically  he  began  with 
his  conversion  in  1886  at  which  time  he  united  with  the  White 
Oak  congregation  of  the  C.  P.  Church.  There  he  served  as  Rul- 
ing Elder  until  Neosho  Presbytery  laid  hands  of  ordination  on 
him  in  the  fall  of  1891.  In  the  Spring  of  1892  he  closed  an  at- 
tendance of  four  years  in  the  Ozark  College — Greenfield,  Moi, 
and  moved  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  took  charge  of  three  country 
churches  as  stated  supply.  He  remained  in  charge  of  two  of 
these  churches  for  six  years  and  of  the  other  one  for  nine  years. 
Here  his  preaching  was  "with  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of 
power."  During  this  ministry  over  seven  hundred  persons  pro- 
fessed faith  in  Christ  and  between  three  and  four  hundred  unit- 
ed with  the  church.  Mr.  Harbour  was  then  engaged  to  serve  the 
Mount  Vernon  church  and  rendered  faithful  service  there  for 
the  six  years.  Large  numbers  were  added  to  this  church,  an 
indebtedness  of  nearly  two  thousand  dollars  was  liquidated  and 
over  a  thousand  dollars  Avere  expended  in  needed  improvements. 
He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  union  of  the  Presbyterian  and 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  churches  and  demonstrated  his  faith 
by  his  works  in  effecting  the  harmonious  union  of  the  two 
churches  in  Mount  Vernon.  Mr.  Harbour  is  especially  efficient 
in  pastoral  evangelism.  He  has  an  intense  passion  for  souls  and 
is  an  indefatigable  worker.  His  favorite  pastime  is  drawing  the 
reins  over  a  fine  and  spirited  horse  of  which  he  is  a  prime  judge. 
And  while  this  predilection  may  have  something  to  do  with  mak- 
ing him  a  capital  mixer  among  men  it  has  left  him  with  a  name 
untarnished  as  wherever  he  is  known  his  name  stands  for  the 
synonym  of  honor  and  worth. 

REV.  W.  C.  HICKS. 


The  alumni  of  Cumberland  University  cherish  fond  mem- 
ories of  an  annual  observance  in  that  institution  known  as  "the 
Election  of  a  Bachelor  of  Ugliness."  When  or  for  what  purpose 
the  practice  originated  I  do  not  know.  But  according  to  time- 
honored  precedent  in  April,  1898,  the  beauty,  culture,  youth  and 
wisdom  of  the  University  of  Lebanon,  and  of  its  environs  assem- 
bled in  Caruthers'  Hall  a  thousand  strong  to  witness  the  pageant. 
It  was  a  time  when  the  sages  of  faculty  and  Board,  the  belles  of 
society  and  the  sturdy  men  of  affairs  donned  their  best  attire  and 
gave  themselves  up  to  frivolity  with  the  young  collegians.  The 
literary,  legal  and  theological  departments  each  had  its  candidate, 
and  each  candidate  was  brought  before  the  electing  constituency 


362  Presbyterianism  in  the  ( )/. arks 

by  a  nominating  and  a  seconding  speech.  On  general  principles 
the  theological  department  was  at  a  disadvantage.  It  was  slight- 
ly outnumbered  by  each  of  the  other  departments  and  was  not 
altogether  exempt  from  their  contemptuous  airs.  W.  C.  Hicks, 
of  Greene  County,  Missouri,  was  a  raw  reernit  in  this  depart- 
ment, the  session  in  question.  He  was  much  older  than  the  other 
students,  married,  bronzed  and  innocent  of  any  attempts  to  keep 
up  with  the  fast  set.  A  few  of  the  young  theologians  had  dis- 
covered his  native  wit  and  sarcasm,  and  hence  he  was  selected 
to  make  the  seconding  speech  for  their  candidate,  Will  Darby, 
and  arrangements  were  so  manipulated  that  Hicks  should  speak 
last.  His  colleague,  like  the  other  four  speakers,  as  well  as  the 
dignitaries  that  occupied  the  platform,  was  faultlessly  attired  in 
a  full  dress  suit.  Hicks  wore  a  Prince  Albert  coat  that  had  seen 
hard  service  and  pantaloons  carelessly  stopping  above  his  shoe 
tops  and  void  of  creases.  The  old  hall  reverberated  with  bom- 
bastic and  eulogistic  oratory  until  Hicks'  time  came.  He  arose, 
peered  around  awkardly  and  then  began  in  this  strain:  "I 
am  forty-eight  years  old.  I  have  stood  on  the  bleak  shores  of  the 
Atlantic  and  watched  its  waves  flow  in.  I  have  traveled  to  the 
peaceful  Pacific  and  observed  its  mellow  waters.  T  have  been 
to  the  great  lakes  on  the  north  and  the  muddy  gulf  on  the  south. 
I  have  lived  in  eighteen  States  and  have  come  near  being  drown- 
ed in  the  Arkansas  River  three  times,  but  this  is  the  first 
time  I  was  ever  asked  to  play  second  fiddle  at  a  fools'  convention 
The  wit  and  drollery  that  followed  this  preoration  won  the  elec- 
tion of  Darby  on  first  ballot.  The  illustration  is  characteristic 
of  the  man.  When  your  program  is  too  long  anyway  put  Hicks 
down  for  the  last  speech.  He  can  awaken  a  sleepy  audience  with 
droll  nonsense  and  induce  them  to  listen  to  a  few  grains  of  sense. 
A  friend  said  to  me  recently  that  he  would  have  been  a  power  if 
he  had  been  well  educated.  I  am  not  sure  that  the  Lord  ever  in- 
tended for  him  to  be  highly  educated.  He  is  endowed  with  na- 
tive gifts  of  wit,  sarcasm  and  judgment,  received  some  book 
learning  at  Pleasant  Hope  Academy  and  imbibed  some  theology 
at  Lebanon,  and  was  educated  in  the  great  University  of  Experi- 
ence. For  five  years  Mr.  Hicks  was  Synodical  Superintendent 
of  Missions  for  the  Cumberland  Synod  of  Missouri.  Two  years  he 
labored  in  Central  Missouri.  The  rest  of  his  ministry  has  been 
spent  in  his  native  heath — Southwest  Missouri.  At  present  he  is 
serving  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark  as  pastor-at-large.  Possessed 
of  executive  ability  and  a  knowledge  of  men,  he  is  admirably 
adapted  to  this  work.  He  can  go  into  a  moribund  church,  dis- 
cover its  possibilities  and  awaken  it  to  an  effort  to  realize  these 
possibilities,  and  he  is  thoroughly    imbued  with    the  conviction 


J.   T.   BACON 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  363 

that  the  hope  of  the  church  rests  in  the  country  congregations. 
Among  the  former  Cumberland  Presbyterians  he  is  known  all 
over  the  State,  and  many  of  them  have  responded  generously  to 
his  characteristic  appeals  for  missionary  funds.  Mr.  Hicks  is 
thoroughly  delighted  with  the  consummation  of  the  union  and 
declares  that  he  is  Calvinistic  to  the  core. 

REV.   JOHN   T.   BACON. 

Destructive  critics  in  days  to  come  may  have  an  easier  time 
in  disproving  this  story  than  they  have  had  in  convincing  us  that 
William  Tell  never  shot  the  apple,  and  Washington  never  pos- 
sessed a  little  hatchet.  Nevertheless  I  give  it  as  I  received  it,  for 
what  it  is  worth: 

More  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  in  the  hills  of  Crawford 
County,  Missouri,  there  was  a  long,  lank  country  boy,  who  went 
to  town  to  see  the  sights  one  chilly  autumn  day.  The  boy  had 
grown  so  rapidly  that  his  trousers  failed  to  meet  his  socks  by 
several  inches,  and  as  he  stood  gazing  in  at  the  store  windows, 
shivering  with  cold,  a  benevolent  lady  took  pity  on  him  and  gave 
him  a  pair  of  stockings.  The  boy  received  a  new  impulse  to  do 
good,  subsequently  entered  Missouri  Valley  College,  graduated 
in  1896,  completed  his  theological  course  at  the  Lebanon  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1899,  and  in  the  month  of  May.  1909.  his 
alma  mater  authorized  him  to  sign  his  name  Rev.  John  T.  Bacon, 
D.  D.  Dr.  Bacon  supplied  various  churches  while  in  school  and 
exercised  his  gifts  freely.  He  was  ordained  in  March,  1893.  by 
the  Presbytery  of  ,  and  during  his  course  in  Missouri. 

Valley  College  saw  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  persons  profess 
Christ  under  his  ministry.  He  entered  upon  his  work  in  Spring- 
field the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  1899,  and  the  following  year  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  First  Cumberland  Church.  By  natural 
predilections,  by  training  and  by  grace.  Mr.  Bacon  is  a  pastor.  I 
was  unhitching  my  horse  at  his  post  one  day  when  a  huckster  at 
my  back  exclaimed:  "There  lives  the  best  preacher  and  the  best 
singer  in  this  town."  As  warm-hearted  and  friendly  as  Mr. 
Bryan,  whom  he  strikingly  resembles,  by  the  sheer  power  of  per- 
sonal popularity,  he  has  kept  latent  most  of  the  opposition  to 
union  in  his  church,  and  although  stringent  efforts  from  without 
have  been  made  to  storm  this  citadel,  only  an  insignificant  minor- 
ity has  gone  out.  With  a  commanding  presence,  a  sonorous  voice, 
a  rich  fund  of  homely  illustrations,  and  an  intense  zeal.  Dr.  Ba- 
con is  popular  in  the  pulpit  and  on  the  platform,  especially  with 
young  people.  He  is  closely  identified  with  all  that  makes  for  the 
well-being  of  the  citv:  for  several  vears  has  been  manager  of  the 


3O4  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

local  Chautaqua  and  is  gaining  more  than  a  local  reputation  on 
the  lecture  platform.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  ministry  he  de- 
voted considerable  attention  to  evangelistic  services,  hut  for  sev- ' 
eral  years  the  demands  of  his  growing  parish  and  the  calls  for  all 
sorts  of  addresses  have  engrossed  his  attention  until  he  has  had 
to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  most  of  the  appeals  from  pastors  and 
churches  for  evangelistic  aid. 

Mr.  Bacon's  pastoral  work  is  signally  successful.  His  peo- 
ple call  on  him  under  almost  all  conceivable  circumstances  and  at 
almost  any  time,  night  and  day.  He  spends  a  large  part  of  his 
time  in  their  homes,  offices  and  on  the  streets,  and  gathers  mate- 
rial for  sermons  as  he  goes  from  place  to  place.  The  people  rally 
to  his  leadership.  The  various  organizations  of  the  church  are 
aggressive  and  the  pastorate  bids  fair  to  be  a  long  one.  I  have 
often  thought  that  the  esprit  de  corps  is  stronger  among  the  for- 
mer C.  P.  ministers  than  among  those  of  my  own  branch  of  the 
church,  and  have  fancied  that  this  is  probably  due  in  part  to  the 
fact  that  their  theological  education  was  more  centralized.  Mr. 
Bacon  has  this  spirit  in  a  large  degree,  but  confines  it  in  no  sense 
to  the  former  C.  P.  ministry.  He  is  a  prime  favorite  in  Presby- 
tery and  Synod,  and  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  seek  his  coun- 
sel and  relish  the  hospitality  of  his  home,  whilst  his  purse  strings 
are  ofttimes  open  to  those  in  need. 

JOSIAH  F.  DANFORTH. 

If  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  are  a  faithful  criterion  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  leading  elder  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Neosho-Ozark  during  its  first  decade.  Josiah  F.  Danforth 
was  born  in  Tennessee  August  23,  1800.  On  the  30th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1830,  he  married  Miss  Letitia  Prather,  and  after  a  brief  resi- 
dence in  Gasconade  county,  Missouri,  which  began  in  September, 
1832,  they  settled  in  Greene  County.  "At  that  time  there  were 
only  four  farms  in  Taylor  Township."  Mr.  Danforth  secured 
thirteen  hundred  acres  of  land  and  made  wise  provision  for  the 
life  that  now  is  and  for  that  which  is  to  come.  "He  represented 
this  district  in  the  Legislature  from  1844  to  1818,  and  was  one 
of  the  ablest  members  of  that  body  at  the  time."  The  Presby- 
tery of  Neosho  held  its  second  session  in  his  house  September. 
1837.  At  this  time  the  New  Providence  Church  was  organized, 
and  Mr.  Danforth  was  an  elder  in  the  same  as  long  as  he  lived. 
Among  the  elders  he  was  probably  the  most  frequent  attendant 
on  the  sessions  of  the  Presbytery.  From  time  to  time  he  served  as 
chairman  of  such  important  committees  on  both  spiritual  and 
financial  interests  as  the  Committee  to  Arrange  Camp  Meetings, 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  365 

the  Committee  to  Settle  the  Claims  of  the  Missionaries,  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  State  of  Religion,  the  Committee  on  the  Statistics 
of  the  Church,  the  Committee  on  Raising  Money  for  the  Book 
Concern,  and  he  was  also  the  first  mentioned  of  the  Commission- 
ers to  locate  a  school.  He  was  the  second  member  on  the  commit- 
tee to  draft  a  form  for  the  keeping  of  sessional  records,  and  at 
one  time  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to  examine  candidates 
on  theology.  When  the  Presbytery  wished  to  raise  $100  for  the 
missionaries  in  its  bounds  (September,  1840)  he  pledged  New 
Providence  Church  for  one-fourth  of  the  amount,  thus  heading  the 
subscription.  It  does  not  require  one  to  be  very  thoroughly  versed 
in  modern  Presbyterial  affairs  to  be  acquainted  with  the  fact 
that  even  in  this  day  of  awakened  lay  activities  chairmanships  of 
such  committees  in  Missouri  Presbyteries  are  now  relegated  to 
the  clergy.  Mr.  Danforth  left  such  an  impress  on  the  New  Provi- 
dence Church,  which  probably  gathered  increment  from  others  of 
the  name,  that  to  this  day  it  is  popularly  known  as  "the  Dan- 
forth Church."  In  1849  he  started  to  California  in  quest  of 
health,  but  when  he  reached  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico,  his  destina- 
tion was  changed  by  a  Higher  Power  and  he  passed  to  the  land 
"whose  inhabitants  never  say  I  am  sick." 

MATTHEW  HENRY  RITCHEY. 

The  name  of  the  devout  commentator  might  easily  have  been 
prefixed  to  the  sirname  of  one  who  would  have  worn  it  less 
worthily.  And  I  have  sometimes  wondered  whether  it  was  given 
as  a  premonition  of  its  wearer's  character  or  as  an  expression  of 
the  devout  tendencies  of  his  parents.  In  childhood  I  knew  him  as 
Judge  Ritchey  and  by  that  title  I  shall  call  him  regularly  as  to 
Avhether  I  speak  of  incidents  in  his  life  before  or  after  he  had 
earned  the  distinction.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee  February  7. 
1813,  and  was  of  strictly  Scotch  descent.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  but  four  years  of  age  and  with  his  mother  he  moved  first 
to  Illinois  in  1829  and  then  to  Southwest  Missouri  in  1832.  Their 
effects  were  carried  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  steers.  St. 
Louis  was  then  a  straggling  town  of  6,900  inhabitants,  and 
Springfield  was  the  proud  possessor  of  one  small  and  poorly  stock- 
ed grocery  store.  "All  Southwest  Missouri  was  embraced  in 
Crawford  county.  It  was  bounded  east  by  Franklin,  Washing- 
ton and  Wayne  counties,  south  by  Arkansas,  west  by  Indian 
Territory  and  north  by  Osage  river.  The  country  west  of  the 
Ozarks  and  drained  by  the  Grand  river  was  then  called  the  Six 
Bulls  in  the  language  of  the  Sioux  Indians ;  in  our  language  the 
Six  rivers,  being  drained  by  six  streams  and  their  tributaries. 


366  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

This  may  he  illustrated  by  speading  wide  apart  the  fingers  of 
one  hand  imagining  a  fifth  finger  between  the  fourth  and  thumb 
all  leading  to  the  wrist  joint  just  as  the  streams  converge  and 
form  Grand  river.  As  the  country  settled  gradually  these  rivers 
were  named  Cowskin  or  Elk  river  which  Hows  west  and  drains 
some  Akansas  territory,  Shoal  creek,  Center  creek.  Spring  river, 
North  Fork  and  Xeosho  river."  Where  Springfield  now  stands 
was  then  known  as  Kickapoo  Prairie.  From  here  the  road  to  the 
Six  Bulls  country  was  a  dim  trail.  Young  Kitchey  and  his 
emigrating  party  followed  this  trail  for  three  days  and  came  to 
the  house  of  Squire  John  Williams  about  three  miles  northeast 
of  the  present  site  of  Mt.  Vernon.  Prom  here  they  journeyed  to 
the  valley  of  Shoal  creek.  In  the  Judge's  own  language:  "De- 
lighted with  the  scene  we  rolled  on  down  the  vale,  though  the 
trail  was  difficult  of  discovery  until  we  drove  into  a  large  timber- 
ed bottom  one  mile  west  of  the  site  where  the  village  of  Ritchey 
has  since  then  grown  up  in  Newton  county.  Making  our  way 
through  the  forest  we  came  upon  a  high  cliff  out  of  which  gushed 
a  large  spring  of  bright,  clear  water,  rolling,  tumbling,  leaping, 
singing  down  to  the  vale  beneath.  This  looked  attractive  to 
youngsters  from  the  prairies  of  Illinois.  Nearby  was  a  log 
house,  just  built  without  chinked  cracks,  ,a  floor  or  shuttered  door. 
In  front  of  it  stood  a  man  of  whom  we  inquired  how  the  road  led 
out.  By  this  time  a  woman  moved  the  quilt  which  covered  the 
aperture  for  a  door,  and  surrounded  by  a  swarm  of  children  came 
out  of  the  cabin  to  do  the  talking.  That  was  natural  if  not  reas- 
onable and  was  rather  an  indication  that  she  habitually  wore 
the — the — the — well,  never  mind  it  indicated,  taken  with  what 
followed,  that  she  wore  them.  She  said:  "There  is  no  road 
further  west ;  if  you  want  to  travel  a  road  you  must  turn  around 
and  go  back  the  way  you  came."  I  replied:  "We  wish  to  go  west 
as  far  as  we  can  without  going  out  of  the  settlement  and  make 
improvements."     Here  the  old  man  broke  in  and  said:  "Til  sell 

my  improvements."     Mr.  asked     "What   will  you   take.1" 

"I'll  take  less  than  the  work  is  worth."     Mr.  asked:  "WTill 

you  take  that  yearling  colt?"  pointing  to  a  colt  running  with 
us.  In  plumped  the  old  lady:  "Take  it  Jim.  I  want  to  get 
away  from  here."  The  trade  was  made,  and  in  a  few  weeks  M. 
H.  Ritchey  went  east  a  mile  and  built  a  cabin  for  himself  and 
mother  on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Ritchey.  This  house  was 
12x14  feet,  yet  he  had  to  go  ten  miles  to  get  men  to  help  him 
"raise"  it.  The  Judge's  description  of  pioneer  conditions  is  so 
interesting  that  it  is  hard  to  keep  from  transcribing  it.  Honey 
sold  at  one  cent  a  pound  in  the  comb  and  was  so  plentiful  that  it 
was  used  for  wagon   grease.     Hogs    were    scarce  and   pork  wa^ 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  367 

hard  to  yet,  but  wild  game  abundant.  When  they  got  a  puncheon 
floor  and  two  rude  bed  steads  it  began  to  look  like  civilization. 
Most  of  the  meal  was  obtained  by  beating  the  corn  in  mortors, 
the  finest  was  used  for  bread  and  the  coarsest  for  hominy.  Greene 
county  was  taken  from  Crawford,  Barry  from  Greene  and  New- 
ton from  Barry  so  that  j  .  Ritchey  lived  in  foiir  counties  with- 
out moving.  After  residing  on  this  farm  nineteen  years  he 
went  to  Oliver's  prairie  to  raise  stock.  Here  on  his  farm  was 
founded  the  town  of  Newtonia.  After  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
railroad  was  built  through  the  county  (now  the  "Frisco)  "  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  he  had  first  settled.  Though  with  but  meager 
education  Judge  Ritchey 's  native  gift  of  mind  and  heart  soon 
brought  him  to  the  front  as  a  leader  of  men  in  this  section  of  the 
state  where  he  lived  for  nearly  57  years.  In  1835  he  married 
Miss  Mary  King  and  to  them  were  born  ten  sons  and  daughters. 
His  wife  died  in  1855  and  he  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Clark,  by  this  second  marriage  he  had  three  children.  He  was 
elected  constable  in  1836  his  jurisdiction  extending  over  an  area 
of  30  square  miles.  Then  he  was  elected  county  judge  and  filled 
that  position  for  several  terms.  He  served  in  both  branches  of 
the  state  legislature,  was  captain  of  the  militia,  and  a  delegate  to 
the  state  convention  called  to  decide  whether  not  Missouri  should 
secede.  Here  his  firm  stand  for  the  Union  aroused  much  oppo- 
sition among  his  intimate  friends.  During  the  war  he  was  pay- 
master with  the  rank  of  Major.  In  1854  he  laid  out  and  built 
Newtonia  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  establishment  of  Newton 
college.  In  1871  he  laid  out  the  town  which  bears  his»  name. 
But  his  record  in  the  realm  of  morals  and  religion  is  brighter 
even  than  that  in  civic  affairs.  He  united  with  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  at  Neosho  in  1840  and  was  a  ruling  elder  for 
many  years.  Presbytery  met  in  his  home  in  December  1841. 
His  connection  with  Spring  River  A,cademy  is  referred  to  else- 
where. It  was  his  special  delight  to  help  young  men  secure  an 
education  for  the  ministry  and  his  counsels  were  eagerly  sought 
in  his  presbytery  which  sent  him  to  the  General  Assembly  several 
times.  Next  to  his  church  he  evidently  placed  the  great  cause 
of  temperance  in  the  defense  of  which  he  weilded  a  strong  and 
facile  pen.  But  his  interest  did  not  stop  here.  "On  the  1st  of 
January  1884  he  sent  Mrs.  Clara  Hoffman  a  check  of  $100  for 
the  work  of  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  the  interesting  correspondence  rela- 
tive to  this  gift  leads  me  to  infer  that  it  was  by  no  means  the  first 
or  the  last  gift  to  the  cause  of  temperance.  Judge  Ritchey  died 
on  the  18th  of  August  1889.  His  children,  grandchildren  and 
great  grandchildren  to  the  number  of  44  survived  him.  I  am 
told  that  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  in  Neosho 


368  Presbyterian jsm  in  the  O/.arks 

for  thirty-five  years.  Among  the  treasured  volumes  in  my  library 
is  an  old  Cumberland  confession  of  Faith  that  he  bad  owned.  In 
the  early  seventies  my  father  was  a  member  of  tin-  firm  of  M.  H. 
Ritchey  and  Co.  in  the  little  town  on  the  banks  of  Shoal  creek. 
When  I  to  manhood  grown  revisited  these  scenes  of  childhood 
in  company  with  my  father  I  was  given  this  book.  That  was 
some  years  before  the  reunion  but  if  its  original  possessor  looks 
over  the  betterments  of  the  glory  world  on  the  doings  of  us 
mortals  here  below  I  know  he  approved,  for  while  here  bis  was 
that  broad  and  castrolic  spirit  that  while  firmly  loyal  to  his  own 
branch  of  the  church  had  a  place  in  his  heart  of  love  for  all  the 
redeemed  children  of  God. 


GEORGE  W.  RIXKER. 

"I  returned  and  saw  under  the  sun,  that  the  race  is  not  to  the 
swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong."  In  a  frontier  country  wbere 
educational  advantages  were  meager  and  where  physical  strength 
seemed  requisite,  George  W.  Rinker  at  thirteen  years  of  age  was 
stricken  with  white  swelling  and  became  a  permanent  cripple. 
Nothing  daunted  his  career  in  civic  or  religious  circles,  has  entitled 
him  to  an  enduring  place  in  the  annals  of  his  section  of  the  coun- 
try. He  was  born  of  German  parents  in  Carroll  county.  Indiara. 
Sept.  20,  1837.  His  father's  side  of  the  house  was  of  the  Lutheran 
faith — and  his  mother's  Presbyterian.  In  1840  the  family  moved 
to-  Missouri  and  purchased  a  preemptors  right  to  the  farm  on 
which  G.  W.  Rinker  still  lives.  That  part  of  the  country  had  not 
yet  been  surveyed  but  was  embraced  in  Barry  county.  It  is  now 
in  Lawrence  county. 

In  1859  Mr.  Rinker  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Lawrence 
county  and  served  in  this  capacity  until  1864  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature.  To  this  latter  position  he  was  re-elected 
in  1866  and  1876.  In  1870  he  was  elected  Judge  and  probate  and 
common  pleas  court.  To  a  political  career  of  unquestioned  in- 
tegrity he  has  added  a  religious  career  that  has  made  him  one  of 
the  most  useful  men  in  Southwest  Missouri  for  more  than  the  span 
of  a  generation.  Converted  at  20  years  of  age  he  united  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  and  was  ordained  ruling  elder 
in  the  Mt.  Vernon  congregation  in  1860.  Subsequently  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  session  in  the  Zion  church  and  afterwards  in 
the  Aurora  church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Sunday  School 
west  of  Springfield  in  Southwest  Missouri  and  in  1860  was  elect- 
ed superintendent — a  position  be  beld  in  this  and  other  Sunday 
Schools   for   forty-five   years-.     Tbe   year   after   the    organization 


AURORA    CHURCH 


G.    W.    RINKER 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  369 

of  the  Lawrence  county  Sunday  School  Association  Judge  Rinker 
was  elected  president  and  for  seventeen  years  he  retained  this 
office.  During  his  incumbency  and  with  L.  L.  Allen  of  Peirce 
City  as  secretary,  Lawrence  county  became  the  banner  Sunday 
School  county  in  the  state  and  its  famous  map  made  by  Allen 
has  been  exhibited  in  many  states  and  in  Rome  and  Jerusalem. 
The  Presbytery  elected  Judge  Rinker  moderator  three  times 
and  sent  him  as  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  a  like 
number  of  times.  In  addition  to  this  his  great  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  church  has  led  him  to  attend  two  assemblies  as  a 
visitor.  In  his  Presbytery  he  made  the  second  speech  in  favor  of 
the  reunion  and  he  says  that  he  is  now  enjoying  the  blessings  of 
the  united  church.  It  would  probably  be  easier  to  enumerate 
the  Cumberland  churches  in  his  section  of  the  state  that  he  has 
not  helped  to  build  than  those  that  were  the  recipients  of  his  ben- 
efactions. Nor  has  his  generous  hand  failed  to  pour  out  its  benison 
on  the  efforts  of  churches  of  other  denominations.  His  tender 
heart  has  ever  felt  another's  woes  and  many  are  the  poor  that  will 
rise  up  and  call  him  blessed.  With  all  his  interest  in  civil  and 
religious  institutions  in  his  midst  probably  the  cause  that  has 
been  nearest  and  dearest  is  the  work  of  fulfilling  our  Savior's 
great  commission  and  thus  is  verified  the  saying  "The  light  that 
shines  the  fartherest,  shines  brightest  nearest  home." 


370  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 


CHAPTER  VII. 


IN  SILHOUETTE. 

The  oral  traditions  and  unsystematized  annals  of  Cumber- 
land Presbyterianism  present  in  shadowy  outline  the  forms  of 
many  worthies  who  merit  an  honored  place  in  this  book.  As  the 
ruins  of  some  ancient  cathedral  or  castle  awaken  conception  of 
former  grandeur  even  though  the  imagination  is  not  entirely 
able  to  reconstruct  the  edifice,  so  my  research  has  impressed  me 
again  and  again  with  the  conviction  that  the  Cumberland  church 
in  Southwest  Missouri  has  numbered  in  the  ranks  of  its  ministry 
and  its  laity  men  who  help  to  bring  the  eleventh  chapter  <>i  He- 
brews down  to  date  and  inspire  one  to  faith  and  fidelity  when  he 

"But    remembers,   only, 
Such  as  these  have  lived  and  died." 

Though  the  outlines  remain  shadowy  and  the  memories  of 
those  he  questions  fail  to  make  the  forms  distinct. 

For  various  reasons  I  have  failed  to  get  adequate  sketches 
of  some  men  whose  portraits  I  must  be  content  to  present  in  Sil- 
houette. 

ALFRED   MOORE. 

The  first  Cumberland  Presbytery  in  Southwest  Missouri  was 
organized  in  the  dwelling  house  of  Alfred  Moore  in  Barry  county 
the  fourth  Tuesday  in  March  1837.  The  hospitable  home  of  Mr. 
Moore  was  again  opened  to  the  Presbytery  April  7.  1840. 

ANDREW  BUCHANAN. 

GREENFIELD  BUCHANAN. 

The  Buchanans  left  a  fragrant  memory  in  Arkansas  to  which 
state  their  labors  were  largely  confined.  The  Synod  of  Arkansas 
appointed  Rev.  Andrew  Buchanan  to  preach  the  opening  sermon 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  371 

at  the  organization  of  Neosho  Presbytery  (1837)  and  Rev.  Green- 
field Buchanan  to  be  the  first  moderator.  Andrew  Buchanan  is 
described  as:  "A  cool,  fearless  hero;  never  excited,  never  losing- 
self  possession,  never  shrinking'  from  any  duty,  however  hard,  he 
was  well  fitted  for  the  field  in  which  his  lot  was  cast.  Two  of  his 
favorite  saying  are  still  quoted  in  Arkansas.  One  was,  'I  take 
no  more  trouble  on  my  hands  than  I  can  kick  off  at  my  heels;'  the 
other,  'I  never  let  my  feeling  stick  out  far  enough  for  people  to 
tramp  on  them.'  " 

REV.  T.  M.  JOHNSTON. 

According  to  the  biography  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Young's,  Mr.  John- 
ston accompanied  Mr.  Young  from  LaFayette  county,  Mo.,  to  the 
vicinage  of  Springfield  in  February,  1836.  After  a  missionary  tour 
through  the  Southwest  they  returned  home  and  were  ordained 
April  23,  1836.  The  same  authority  asserts  that  they  were  pres- 
ent at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  dwelling  house  of 
Alfred  Moore  but  the  author  mistaken  as  to  the  date  of  that 
meeting  and  the  records  make  no  mention  of  Mr.  Young  until 
the  second  meeting,  and  Mr.  Johnston  is  first  mentioned  at  the 
third  session.  However,  Mr.  Johnston's  name  is  signed  to  the 
first  minutes  as  "recording  clerk"  and  he  appears  either  in  this 
capacity  or  as  "stated  clerk"  until  the  division  of  the  Presbytery. 
His  field  of  labor  was  in  the  new  Presbytery  of  Springfield,  and 
when  he  left  that  Presbytery  in  1848  it  was  "Resolved  that  this 
Presbytery  deeply  lament  the  loss  of  the  counsel  and  support  of 
Bro.  T.  M.  Johnston  who  has  been  the  faith  (in  Christ)  of  this 
Presbytery."  Mr.  Johnston  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
First  Churches  of  Springfield  and  served  that  church  as  stated 
supply.     He  also  ministered  to  the  new  Providence  church. 

J.  !>.,  MONTGOMERY. 

Rev.  Jefferson  Montgomery  came  from  Tennessee  probably  in 
1839.  In  April  of  that  year  he  attended  Presbytery  at  the  resi- 
dence of  George  M.  Gibson  and  was  assigned  work  in  Greene  and 
Polk  counties.  Under  his  ministry  the  name  of  Shiloh  church 
was  changed  to  Pomme  de  Terre — (now  Pleasant  Hope).  The 
history  of  Dade  county  says:  "The  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church,  now  of  Greenfield,  was  organized  in  1839  by  Rev.  J.  D. 
Montgomery.  The  church  was  organized  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  site  of  Greenfield  before  the  town  had  an  existence."  But 
in  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Montgomery  for  the  biography  of 
Rev.    A.    A.    Young    Mr.    Montgomery    says:    "I    attended    Bro. 


372  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

Young's  camp  meetings  for  a  fall  or  two  and  saw  his  great  zeal 
for  the  Master.  He  attended  my  first  camp  meeting  in  1S4<>  near 
Greenfield. 

What  Mr.  Young  was  to  the  Southwest  part  of  the  Presbytery 
Mr.  Montgomery  was  to  the  Northeast  pari — especially  to  Dade 
county/  "His  study  for  many  years  was  on  horse  hack  as  he 
went  from  one  appointment  to  another,  or  at  the  plow  as  he  toiled 
to  support  his  family."  He  is  remembered  as  an  exhorter  of 
unusual  powers  and  as  a  spiritual  general  who  could  mobelize 
Christian  workers  and  lead  them  in  effectual  service  for  the 
Master.  "His  field  was  Dade  county  with  parts  of  other  counties 
north  and  east  of  Dade.  Tn  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  his  field 
•was  contracted  to  the  northeast  part  of  Dade  county.  During 
the  war  Mr.  Montgomery  was  known  for  his  strong  union  senti- 
ments, and  his  great  influence  made  him  the  object  of  bitter 
persecutions  by  the  leaders  of  the  Confederate  forces.  For  over 
a  half  a  century  Mr.  Montgomery  lived  and  labored  in  Southwest 
Missouri  and  in  1890  he  was  called  to  his  reward. 

WILLIAM   GRIEF  PERKINS. 

If  any  man  has  served  in  the  eldership  of  a  Presbyterian 
church  in  Southwest  Missouri  longer  than  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  the  knowledge  of  that  fact  has  eluded  my  grasp.  If  he 
had  lived  one  day  longer  he  would  have  seen  the  sixty-seventh 
anniversary  of  the  order  of  Presbytery  for  the  organization  of 
the  Cumberland  Union  church  in  which  he  was  elected  a  charter 
elder.  But  length  of  days  in  service  is  not  his  only  claim  to 
eminence.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky  May  31,  1881,  and  came  to 
Greene  county  in  1836.  Ten  years  later  he  was  married  to 
Martha  Ann  Beal  (February  14,  1846). That  fall  they  settled  on 
a  farm  on  which  they  lived  together  for  nearly  sixty-two  years. 
To  this  pious  patriarch  and  his  wife  were  born  nine  children, 
seven  of  them  surviving  their  parents.  In  the  spring  of  1841  the 
Cumberland  Union  church — later  called  Brookline — was  organ- 
ized and  Mr.  Perkins  was  made  a  charter  elder.  "Uncle  Grief", 
as  he  was  called  was  a  noted  singer  and  was  sought  far  and  wide 
as  a  helper  in  evengelistic  meetings  before  the  professional  gospel 
singers  became  ubiquitious.  He  is  remembered,  too,  for  his  loyal 
support  of  the  ministry  and  of  the  educational  interests  of  his 
church.  On  the  9th  of^March,  1908.  old  and  full  of  days  he  was 
gathered  to  his  father.  Less  than  two  months  later  the  com- 
panion of  his  young  manhood  and  old  age  went  home  to  meet 
him. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  373 

THE  DILLARDS. 

The  unique  distinction  of  having  given  two  sons  to  the 
ministry  and  two  to  the  eldership  belongs  to  Wm.  Dillard, 
Senior.  Mr.  Dillard  came  from  Tennessee  to  Greene  county, 
Missouri,  in  the  third  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century.  He  set- 
tled on  a  farm  on  Pearson  creek  and  cooperated  with  the  Don- 
forths  in  organizing  the  New  Providence  church.  His  sons  Stephen 
and  John  entered  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  ministry  whilst 
his  sons  George  and  Robert  became  elders — the  former  in  the 
Home  church  and  the  latter  in  the  Pleasant  Divide  church.  An- 
other son  Wm.  Junior  was  a  member  of  the  New  Providence 
church  and  a  grandson — James  L.  is  now  an  elder  in  that  church. 

The  history  of  Greene  county  (1883)  contains  this  sketch  of 
George  Dillard: 

"Mr.  Dillard  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Tennessee,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1826,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Sarah  Dillard.  When 
he  was  eleven  years  of  age  his  parents  emigrated  to  Greene  coun- 
ty, Mo.,  and  settled  upon  section  8,  township  59  and  range  29, 
where  George  grew  to  manhood,  and  where  he  has  always  lived 
since  coming  to  Missouri  with  the  exception  of  three  year's  ser- 
vice in  the  army.  In  1862  he  was  commissioned  as  captain  of 
enrolled  militia,  and  served  as  such  until  the  war  closed.  He 
was  engaged  most  of  the  time  in  the  defense  of  Springfield,  and 
keeping  the  "bushwhackers"  out  of  the  country  as  far  as  practi- 
cable. Captain  Dillard  was  married  upon  the  31st  of  May,  1849, 
to  Miss  Eliza  J.  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  Gabella  Gibson.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Captain  Dillard  is  one  of  the  best  farmers  and  most 
enterprising  gentlemen  of  this  section,  and  no  man  is  held  in 
higher  esteem  in  the  county  that  he." 

DAVID  ELLIOTT  GIBSON. 
(Written  by  G.  W.  Rinker.) 

Born  in  Giles  county,  Tennessee,  May  29,  1814,  David  Elliott 
Gibson  moved  with  his  parents  to  Southwest  Missouri  in  the 
spring  of  1831.  This  was  one  of  the  first  families  to  settle  in 
what  is  now  Lawrence  county.  David  was  converted  at  the 
first  camp  meeting  held  in  Southwest  Missouri  in  1837  (or  '38) 
and  was  soon  afterwards  elected  elder  of  the  Spring  River  con- 
gregation of  the  C.  P.  church,  which  position  he  held  until  his 
death,  February  21,  1888,  a  period  of  fifty  years.  He  was  twice 
elected  judge  of  the  county  court,  first  in  1850  and  again  in  1871. 
Judge  David  E.   Gibson  was  one  of  Lawrence   county's  noblest 


374  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

men.  For  integrity,  mural  worth  and  active  service  none  stood 
Ins   peer.     I   was  county  clerk   when   he  was  judge  of  the  county 

court,  and  can  say  ne  handled  the  public  money  with  all  the  care 
and  painstaking  that  he  used  in  his  own  financial  matters.  He 
died  at  his  home  near  Mt.  Vernon,  February  21,  188s.  where  he 
had  lived  for  fifty-two  years. 

GALLAHUGH  .MOORE. 

(Written  by  G.  W.  Rinker.) 

Gallahugh  Moore  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Lawrence  county, 
Missouri.  He  bought  a  farm  on  Honey  creek  in  the  forty's,  and 
laid  the  foundation  for  a  useful  life,  and  established  a  happy 
home.  He  was  prosperous  as  a  fanner,  and  active  as  a  Christian 
worker.  He  was  chosen  an  elder  in  Spring  River  congregation 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  which  position  he  filled 
with  honor  to  himself,  attended  by  great  success  to  the  church. 
He  was  faithful  to  his  church  and  family,  of  ten.  He  often  repre- 
sented his  church  in  its  Presbytery  and  Synod.  He  died  in  the 
harness,  and  his  mantle  has  been  taken  up  by  his  sons. 

GENERAL  COLLY  B.  HOLLAND. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  August.  1816,  Colly  B.  Holland  was 
born  in  Robberson  county,  Tennessee.  In  early  life  he  Avas  called 
to  assist  his  widowed  mother  in  the  support  of  the  two  younger 
children,  and  with  the  burdens  of  manhood  thrown  upon  the 
shoulders  of  a  youth  he  enjoyed  but  meager  educational  advan- 
tages. But  he  belonged  to  that  sterling  type  of  men  who  gain 
a  large  fund  of  practical  information  from  a  very  few  books. 

Mr.  Holland  moved  to  Springfield,  Missouri,  in  1841  and  in 
company  with  his  brother  John  established  a  tailor  shop.  He 
soon  became  identified  with  the  commercial  and  progressive 
enterprises  of  the  town  of  his  adoption,  was  one  of  the  incorpor- 
ators of  the  Springfield  Male  Academy  founded  in  1859,  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  cotton  mill  industry  and  in  1875  opened  the 
Holland  Banking  House  with  his  sons  T.  B.  and  W.  C.  In  the 
Civil  war  he  was  Captain  of  Company  D.  of  Phelps'  regiment, 
assisted  in  organizing  the  72nd  regiment  of  the  Missouri  militia, 
and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General.  General  Holland  was 
a  life  long  Cumberland  Presbtyerian.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
elders  of  the  First  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  of  Spring- 
field  organized  in  1844  and  in  1847  he  was  made  clerk  of  the  ses- 
sion a  position  he  held  for  years.  His  liberal  benefactions  and 
efficient  services  were  by  no  means  confined  to  the  local  church. 


GALLAHUGH   MOORE 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  375 

He  was  frequently  elected  a  commissioner  to  the    General    As- 
sembly and  held  a  high  rank  among  the  laymen  in  his  denomina- 
tion.    Like  many  of  his  contemporaries  in  the  eldership  of  that 
branch  of  the  church,  Mr.  Holland  was  a  patron  of  young  men- 
studying  for  the  ministry.    He  died  the  fifth  of  March,  1901. 

JOHN  G.  KNOX. 

(Written  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Hicks). 

John  G.  Knox,  one  of  the  most  worthy  elders  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  was  born  in  Giles  county,  Tennessee, 
in  1838.  He  came  to  Missouri  shortly  after  his  marriage  and 
settled  in  Greene  county,  eight  miles  northwest  of  Springfield. 
Mr.  Knox  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Walnut  Springs 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  and  was  an  elder  in  that  church 
from  its  organization  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  November. 
1891.  He  reared  a  worthy  family  of  four  boys  and  three  girls 
all  of  whom  are  exemplary  Christian  citizens  and  owners  of  well 
regulated  homes.  Three  of  his  sons  have  filled  the  office  of  ruling 
elder  in  the  church.  We  feel  that  such  a  man  deserves  more  than 
passing  notice.  He  often  related  his  Christian  experience  when 
and  where  he  thought  it  would  be  helpful  to  others.  He  said 
that  when  he  was  a  small  boy  in  Giles  county,  Tenn.,  his  father 
and  mother  with  others  in  the  church  and  community  were  plan- 
ning for  one  of  the  old  time  camp  meetings.  All  arrived  on  Friday 
evening  and  unloaded  their  camping  equipment,  preparatory  to 
pitching  their  tents  near  the  old  spring.  A  number  of  tired  moth- 
ers and  children  went  to  the  spring  to  quench  their  thirst ;  while 
resting  they  entered  into  conversation  as  to  their  purpose  in  com- 
ing to  the  meeting.  His  mother  said  that  her  purpose  was  that  her 
children  might  find  Jesus  Christ  as  their  Saviour,  that  she  hoped 
and  prayed  that  John  might  be  converted.  Her  hopes  were  re- 
alized and  her  prayers  were  answered.  As  a  young  Christian  John 
felt  that  he  was  called  upon  to  preach  the  gospel,  but  he  never 
yielded  to  the  call.  In  later  life  he  tried  to  atone  for  what  he 
regarded  as  a  neglect  ,on  his  part  by  helping  other  young  men 
to  enter  the  ministry.  On  one  occasion  a  young  man  wrestling 
with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  preach  went  to  Mr. 
Knox  for  advice.  The  young  man  spoke  of  his  impressions,  said 
that  he  was  willing  to  enter  the  ministry  but  added  that  he  was 
in  debt  to  the  amount  of  $500,  that  he  was  not  able  to  pay  it  at 
present  and  was  not  willing  to  offer  himself  up  to  the  Presbytery 
as  a  candidate  under  these  circumstances.  Mr.  Knox  readily 
replied:  "This  is  my  opportunity,  if  I  can  not  go  I  can  send 
someone  to  preach.  You  answer  the  call  of  God  and  I  will  assume 


376  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  obligation  of  the  $500  indebtedness."     Fortunately  for  Mr. 

Knox  he  never  had  to  pay  the  debt.  H  was  his  constant  practice 
to  seek  the  poor,  the  unfortunate  and  the  forsaken  and  to  become 
to  them  a  friend  in  need.    He  was  truly  a  good  Samaritan. 

M.  A.  PRATER 

The  genial  pastor  of  the  Aurora  Church  needed  not  to  be 
acclimated  to  the  social  atmosphere  of  Southwest  Missouri.  At 
the  firesides,  on  the  farms  and  in  the  marts  of  commerce  in  the 
Ozarks  he  treads  his  native  heath.  A  Missourian  by  birth  he  re- 
ceived his  literary  training-  here  and  completed  his  theological 
course  in  Cumberland  University,  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  in  1892. 
Pastorates  averaging  something  over  three  years  each  followed 
at  Springfield,  Steelville  and  Sullivan.  Missouri,  and  Van  Buren, 
Arkansas.  His  present  pastorate  at  Aurora  gives  promise  of  con- 
tinued usefulness.  Mr.  Prater  is  an  evangelistic  pastor,  fre- 
quently conducts  his  own  meetings  with  marked  success  and 
finds  time  each  year  to  assist  one  or  more  neighboring  pastors  in 
evangelistic  meetings.  He  forms  and  holds  strong  ties  of  friend- 
ship wherever  he  goes  and  is  dearly  loved  by  old  and  young  for 
his  sympathetic  interest,  genial  disposition  and  powers  of  adapt- 
ation to  circumstances  as  he  finds  them. 

J.  M.  HUBBERT 

The  United  Church  is  indebted  to  Southwest  Missouri  for 
its  efficient  assistant  stated  clerk  of  the  General  Assembly.  J.  M. 
Hubbert  was  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  under  care  of  the 
Springfield  Presbytery  and  as  such  was  dismissed  from  the  Pres- 
bytery March  4th,  1871.  For  a  time  he  was  a  student  in  Ozark 
College  and  when  he  was  prepared  for  a  higher  course  Presby- 
tery advised  him  to  "Repair  as  soon  as  practicable  to  Camp 
Black  and  enter  Cumberland  University."  Dr.  Hubbert  was 
Moderator  of  the  Assembly  of  1889  and  stated  clerk  of  the  As- 
sembly from  1896  to  the  time  of  the  union. 

M.  B.  DeWITT 

When  I  came  to  Springfield  in  1895  Dr.  DeWitt  filled  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  Cumberland  church.  In  scholarly  attainments. 
Christian  gentlemanliness,  suavity  of  manner  and  grace  of  heart 
the  pulpits  of  the  city  have  not  since  had  his  superior.  In  the 
Ministerial  Alliance  he  was  accorded,  merited  deference  and  es- 
teem.    I  never  think  of  him  without  recalling  his  plea  for  the 


Presbytlrianisai  in  the  Ozarks  377 

study  of  the  poets  in  which  with  telling  effect,  he  quoted  Byron's 
words  as  an  illustration  of  the  inevitable  end  of  such  a  life : 

"My  days  are  in  the  yellow  leaf, 

The  fruit  and  flower  of  love  are  gone ; 

The  worm,  the  canker,  and  the  grief 
Are  mine  alone." 

Dr.  DeWitt  was  born  in  Paris,  Tenn.,  in  1835  and  died  at 
Nashville  in  1901.  He  graduated  from  the  literary  and  theologi- 
cal departments  of  Cumberland  University  and  was  pastor  of 
the  church  of  Fayetteville,  Tenn.,  until  the  outbreak  of  the  civil 
war,  when  he  became  chaplain  in  the  Confederate  army.  His 
subsequent  labors  were:  Pastor  at  Huntsville,  Alabama,  1865- 
1872 ;  Book  Editor  of  the  Publishing  House,  Nashville,  1872-1879 ; 
Pastor  M.  C.  Minnville,  Tenn.,  1879-1882;  P.  M.  C,  Keesport, 
Pa.,  1882-1884;  P.  Edgefield  church,  Nashville,  1884-1888;  Sun- 
day School  Editor  and  Superintendent  for  the  denomination. 
1888-1894;  P.  Springfield,  Mo.,  April,  1894,  Oct.  1896.  Ill  health 
laid  him  aside  until  December,  1898,  when  he  became  pastor  at 
Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  his  last  pastorate  which  terminated  in  Decem- 
ber, 1900. 

There  are  other  names  that  richly  deserve  more  than  pass- 
ing mention,  and  those  who  were  reared  in  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church  may  think  that  my  ideas  of  "election"  are  arbi- 
trary indeed.  But  could  they  know  the  futile  efforts  I  have  made 
to  get  the  necessary  information  they  would  deal  leniently  with 
my  shortcomings. 

*  *  *  *  "Like  the  vase  in  which  roses  have  once  been  distilled, 
You  may  break,  you  may  shatter  the  vase  if  you  will 
But  the  scent  of  the  rose  will  cling  to  it  still." 

So  I  catch  the  fragrance  of  their  lives  in  the  broken  memor- 
ies of  those  who  have  known  them — but  fail  to  get  characteris- 
tics and  facts  enough  to  give  to  them  a  form  substantial  enough 
to  appear  to  the  reader.     Such  were 

THOMAS  KEER.  and 

HARVEY  T.  McCUNE 

of  the  Old  Oakland   Church,  and 

ELISHA  B.  HILLHOUSE 

of  Lawrence  County,  and 

WILLIAM  P.  DYSART. 


378  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

for  fifty  or  sixty  years  an  elder  in  the  Mount  Comfort  church  and 
a  power  in  personal  evangelism. 
And  they  are  not  all  dead  yet. 

WILLIAM    McCANSE 

was  elected  to  the  eldership  in  the  Mount  Vernon  church  before 
the  civil  war,  and 

A.  A.  YOUNG 

still  maintains  in  Lawrence  county  the  good  name  inherited  from 
his  father.  The  Rev.  A.  A.  Young  of  blessed  memory.  And  in 
that  general  region  of  country  the  heart  of  the  former  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  beats  with  pride  at  the  mention  of  the  hon- 
ored names  of 

GIBSOX  and  WHITE. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  379 


CHAPTER  VIII 


OTHER  PRESBYTERIAN  BODIES 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  U.  S. 

In  1861  the  Presbytery  of  La  Fayette  embraced  twenty- 
seven  counties  stretching  from  the  Missouri  river  to  the  Arkan- 
sas line.  In  this  vast  domain  it  had  21  ministers,  34  churches 
and  a  communicant  roll  of  1,478.  The  counties  of  La  Fayette, 
Jackson  and  Cass  furnished  1100  of  these,  leaving  only  378 
members  in  twenty-four  counties.  The  territory  subsequently 
occupied  by  Ozark  Presbytery  had  only  5  churches  with  143 
members.  In  April,  1861,  the  Presbytery  met  in  Longwood. 
Pettis  county.  That  was  its  last  full  meeting  prior  to  the  civil 
war.  The  three  ministers  who  met  in  the  fall  adjourned  without 
ceremony  before  an  armed  band  of  foragers.  "In  the  spring  of 
1862,  three  ministers  met  in  Pleasant  Hill,  but  nothing  was  done, 
but  adjourn,  to  meet  in  Hopewell  church  October  2nd."  The 
pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  David  Coulter.  He  had  the  joy  of 
welcoming  to  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  Revs.  J.  W.  Wallace,  R. 
S.  Symington  and  George  Miller.  It  is  described  by  the  latter  as 
"a  quiet,  pleasant  meeting,  attended  by  old  people,  women  and 
children,  and  full  of  sadness,  charity  and  devotion — a  sort  of 
spiritual  sunset,  before  a  long,  dark,  bitter  and  cruel  night  of 
three  and  one-half  years  duration.  *  *  *  Our  Presbytery  met 
no  more  until  April,  1866,  and  when  it  did,  it  was  but  the  frag- 
ments of  what  it  was,  a  wreck  in  ministers,  churches,  members 
and  Christian  spirit.  Of  the  21  that  met  five  years  ago  only  five 
remained.  *  *  *  From  1861  to  1866  one-half  of  all  the 
churches  on  our  roll  became  utterly  extinct,  and  in  the  places  of 
12  out  of  34  no  organiaztion  has  ever  been  revived.  Of  the  sur- 
viving organization,  eleven  are  now  (1888)  in  the  southern  con- 
nection and  six  in  the  northern  four  in  this  (Kansas  City)  and 
two  in  Ozark  Presbytery.* 

*There  is  evidently  a  mistake  here  as  Ozark  retained  Ebernezer,  Mount 
Vernon   (i.  e.  Ozark  Prairie)   and  Calvary  Churches. 


380  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

In  the  fall  of  1866  the  Synod  divided.  That  part  of  La  Pay- 
ette Presbytery  within  the  purview  of  this  volume  bad  been 
stricken  off  the  year  before  to  constitute  the  Presbytery  of  South- 
west .Missouri.  As-  for  the  rest,  all  went  into  the  'Declaration 
and  Testimony"  or  Independent  Southern  Synod  except  the 
church  of  Warrensburg  and  a  very  few  members  in  Kansas  City 
and  Pleasant  Hill,  together  with  one  minister — Rev.  George  Mil- 
ler. The  Presbytery  of  La  Fayette.  U.  S.  retains  the  succession 
and  the  records.  Its  confines  were  once  more  extended  to  the 
Arkansas  Line.  Like  its  predecessor  before  the  disruption  the 
bulk  of  its  strength  is  in  the  northern  part.  The  earliest  work  of 
this  Presbytery  in  the  Ozark  region  was  near  the  scenes  of  the 
old  Indian  Missions  of  the  New  School  church.  The  churches  of 
this  section  at  the  disruption  of  the  Presbytery  of  Osage  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Old  School  church,  "by  which  after  the  war 
many  efforts  were  made  to  revive  the  old  churches  and  to  estab- 
lish new  ones."  The  Presbytery  of  La  Fayette  entered  this  same 
field.  On  the  8th  of  September.  1870.  it  enrolled  the  churches  of 
Nevada  City  and  Virgil  City,  both  of  which  were  organized  by 
Rev.  J.  Galbreath.  the  former  with  13  and  the  latter  with  15  mem- 
bers. The  Bethany  church,  organized  by  Revs.  Messrs.  Mont- 
gomery. Milster  and  Crockett,  was  enrolled  March  13th.  1874. 
These  churches  were  all  in  Vernon  county,  and  they  have  all  dis- 
appeared from  the  roll  of  La  Fayette  Presbytery.  Nevada  City 
was  doubtless  abandoned  on  account  of  the  work  of  the  Ozark 
Presbytery  U.  S.  at  that  place.  Virgil  City  church  by  formal 
application  was  received  by  the  same  body.  What  became  of 
Bethany  I  am  unable  to  say.  Between  these  efforts  and  the  es- 
tablishment cf  the  permanent  work  of  the  Presbytery  in  the 
Ozarks  several  years  elapsed.  The  churches  now  on  the  roll  of 
the  Presbytery  in  this  section  were  either  enrolled  or  organized 
as  follows : 

Lamar  (Barton  county),  1883;  Westminster  (Springfield), 
July,  1883,  1885  (?);  Walker  (Vernon  county).  April  26,  1889; 
Montrose  (Pulaski  county).  April  15.  1896;  Forsythe  (Taney 
county).  August  14,  1896;  Sparta  (Christian  county),  September 
17,  1896;  Crocker  (Pulaski  county),  April  12,  1898;  Tuscumhia 
(Miller  county),  April  16,  1896;  Swedenborg  (Pulaski  county), 
September,  1906;  Branson  (Taney  county),  March  18.  1907. 
Westminster  (Vernon  county),  date  of  organization  unknown  to 
the  writer.  At  one  time  the  Presbytery  had  an  organization  at 
Mansfield  but  that  has  been  disbanded ;  whilst  its  church  at  Burn- 
ham  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  U.  S.  A.  Xo 
doubt  other  organizations  have  been  abandoned  but  as  I  have  not 
had  access  to  the  records  of  this  Presbytery  I  am  unable  to  men- 
tion them  even  by  name.     The  eleven  churches  now  on  the  roll 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  381 

reported  a  membership  of  560  in  1908.     Of  this  membership  La- 
mar reported  103  and  Westminster  of  Springfield  102. 

The  Westminster  church  has  had  a  succession  of  gifted  pas- 
tors including  Revs.  H.  B.  Boude.  D.  D.,  Eugene  F.  Abbott,  A.  Y. 
Beaty,  and  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  G.  W.  Jurey.  Mr.  Beaty 
resigned  to  manage  the  founding  of  The  School  of  the  Ozarks. 
This  school  under  the  control  of  the  denomination  is  located  in 
Forsythe.  Taney  county,  and  is  modeled  in  part  at  least  after 
Park  College.  Before  formulating  plans  Mr.  Beaty  was  sent  to 
Park  and  to  a  number  of  institutions,  among  the  mountain  peo- 
ple of  the  south  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  best  features  of 
the  various  schools  doing  this  kind  of  work.  One  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  was  secured  and  the  first  building  was  com- 
pleted in  the  spring  of  1907.  The  school  was  opened  in  the  fall. 
It  has  accommodations  for  fifty  boarders  and  the  Boarding  De- 
partment is  kept  full.  The  public  school  funds  of  the  township 
are  turned  over  to  its  trustees  and  the  children  of  Forsythe  are 
admitted  without  tuition.  A  normal  course  has  proven  a  boon  to 
district  school  teachers  in  Taney  and  the  adjoining  counties.  The 
school  is  coeducational.  Mr.  Beaty  was  compelled  to  resign  about 
a  year  after  the  opening  of  the  school  on  account  of  health  con- 
siderations. Since  then  the  school  has  been  without  a  President. 
Forsythe  is  reached  by  a  hack  line  from  Branson,  about  ten  miles 
over  the  mountains.  Already  the  School  of  the  Ozarks  has  dem- 
onstrated its  right  to  be. 

UNITED  PRESBYTERIANS 

The  United  Presbyterian  church  has  but  two  organizations 
in  Southwest  Missouri,  and  one  of  these  was  organized  by  the 
Reformed  Presbyterian  church.  This  church  is  located  near 
Sylvania  in  Dade  county.  Reformed  Presbyterians  settled  in 
Dade  county  just  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  On  the  10th 
of  August,  1871,  they  were  organized  into  a  church  by  Revs. 
James  Wallace,  W.  W.  McMillan  and  Elder  James  Hutcheson. 
Forty-nine  members  entered  the  organization  and  W.  M.  Edgar 
and  Thomas  McDermit  were  elected  ruling  elders.  The  church 
was  subsequently  transferred  to  the  United  Presbyterians.  It 
has  enrolled  a  body  of  sterling  men  and  women  but  has  paid  the 
penalty  of  isolation  from  other  churches  of  the  same  faith  and 
order  and  has  frequently  been  unable  to  secure  the  stated  ser- 
vices of  a  pastor. 

The  First  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Springfield  was  or- 
ganized October  23,  1892.  Messrs.  Samuel  Kidd.  George  Bybee 
and  J.  R.  George  were  the  charter  elders.  Rev.  John  Teaz,  D.  D., 
was  the  first  pastor.     He  has  been  followed  in  the  pastorate  by 


382  PRESBYTERIANISM    IX    THE    OZARKS 

Revs.  J.  W.  Long,  I).  I)..  S.  A.  Moon-  and  J.  II.  Gibson,  D.  D.,  all 
men  of  Strength,  stability  and  piety.  The  church  lias  a  member- 
ship of  83,  worships  in  a  neat  frame  house  and  has  a  commodious 
parsonage. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  383 


CHAPTER  IX. 


COLORED  CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERIANISM. 


On  the  roll  of  the  Old  Kickapoo  church  are  these  names: 

16  (Servant)  Simon. 

17  (Servant)  Hagar. 

18  (Servant)  Samuel. 

19  (Servant)  Mary. 

20  (Servant)  Wiett. 

21  (Servant)  Charles. 

Among  the  charter  members  of  the  First  Cumberland  church 
of  Springfield  is  enumerated  "Leah,  a  black  woman."  Similar 
records  might  be  found  in  other  Pioneer  Cumberland  churches 
and  in  Presbyterian  churches  as  well.  They  are  the  pathetic  me- 
mentoes of  an  institution  that  belonged  to  other  days.  Before 
the  civil  war  the  Cumberland  church  carried  on  rather  an  exten- 
sive work  among  the  negroes  and  in  process  of  time  the  congre- 
gations were  segregated.  The  minutes  of  the  Ozark  Presbytery 
for  September,  1872,  contain  this  entry:  "The  stated  clerk  of 
Presbytery  was  ordered  to  address  by  circular  letter  the  colored 
congregations  in  our  bounds,  setting  forth  their  relationship  to 
the  Presbytery,  and  the  duties  growing  out  therefrom  to  their 
ministers."  In  October  of  the  same  year  the  Springfield  Pres- 
bytery appointed  a  commission  to  examine  Lewis  Fulbright,  a 
colored  candidate  under  care  of  the  Presbytery.  This  commis- 
sion was  instructed  to  ordain  him  if  in  its  judgment  such  a  step 
was  proper  even  though  he  was  found  deficient  in  some  branches. 
The  reason  for  this  instruction  was  based  on  the  fact  that  the 
colored  brethren  had  expressed  a  desire  for  a  separate  Presby- 
tery. The  commission  was  farther  instructed  to  memorialize 
Synod  to  organize  the  new  Presbytery  in  the  event  that  said  com- 
mission did  ordain  the  candidate. 

From  the  life  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Young  we  learn  that  "At  this 
meeting    of    Ozark    Synod,     (1872),    the     colored     brethren    in 


384  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  hounds  of  the  Synod  presented  a  memorial,  asking  the 
Synod  to  constitute  them  a  Presbytery,  to  be  under  the  care  and 
compose  an  integral  part  of  the  Green  River  Synod  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church    (colored),  said    Presbytery    to    be 

known  and  styled  'The  Missouri  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church   (Colored.) \" 

Synod  granted  the  request,.  "And  thus  was  organized  the 
first  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  (col- 
ored) in  the  great  State  of  Missouri." 

The  Presbytery  is  now  called  Kansouri  Presbytery.  This 
Presbytery  met  in  Greenfield,  Missouri,  Aug.  13-16,  1908.  The 
minutes  of  this  session  indicate  that  there  were  seven  ministers 
in  attendance  and  the  churches  given  are  Springfield.  Bethel,  (P. 
O.  Hartville,  Mo.),  Oak  Grove,  (P.  0.  Hartville.  Mo.),  Marsh- 
field,  Greenfield,  Ash  Grove,  Nogo — all  of  which  appear  to  be  in 
Missouri  and  Okmulgee,  Oklahoma,  and  Topeka,  Kansas.  The 
Cave  Springs  church  applied  for  membership  in  the  Presbytery 
at  this  session  and  its  request  was  granted.  The  Presbytery  ap- 
pointed a  commission  to  "Take  under  advisement  the  location 
and  operation  of  a  Presbyterian  school  in  Southwest  Missouri." 
The  commission  consists  of  Revs.  B.  F.  Foster,  and  H.  Harvey 
and  Mr.  Wm.  Smith.  The  Springfield  church,  known  as  Gibson 
Chapel,  has  a  commodious  and  modern  house  of  worship — built 
of  brick  and  costing  in  the  neighborhood  of  $15,000.  To  make 
this  house  a  possibility  at  least  four  of  the  members  mortgaged 
their  own  homes — and  I  believe  lost  them.  The  church  has  a 
membership  of  about  two  hundred. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  385 


APPENDIX 


PRESBYTERIAN  ADDRESSES. 


PREPARED  FOR  SPECIAL  OCCASIONS. 

Note. — -The  following  addresses  were  prepared  for  the  va- 
rious occasions  indicated  under  the  separate  addresses.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  collected  in  this  form  they  will  add  to  the  permanent 
and  general  value  of  this  work.  If  in  some  instances  the  reader 
finds  himself  traversing  the  same  ground  twice  or  more  times  he 
will  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  they  were  prepared  at  times  sep- 
arated by  a  lapse  of  months  or  years. 


THE  MEN  AND  TIMES  OP  THE  WESTMINSTER 
ASSEMBLY. 

(Delivered  before  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  Monett,  Mo.,  Septem- 
ber, 1898). 

I  shaH  reverse  the  order  suggested  by  my  theme  and  give  a 
sketch  of  the  times  and  men  of  the  Westminster  Assembly.  The 
limitations  of  my  subject  forbid  me  the  pleasing  task  of  reviewing 
and  passing  judgment  upon  the  monumental  work  of  these  men 
— the  Westminster  Standards.  We  may  consider  the  times  as  an 
interpretation  of  these  standards,  or  we  may  ask  whether  or  not 
the  times  were  propitious  for  the  formulation  of  a  creed  or 
whether  or  not  the  men  were  endowed  with  abilities  of  heart 
and  mind  commensurate  with  the  task.  The  Westminster  As- 
sembly convened  during  the  closing  decade  of  the  Thirty  Year's 
War.  It  was  in  session  when  the  Peace  of  Westphalia  was  de- 
clared. The  Assembly  gave  permanent  expression  to  the  relig- 
ious convictions  of  a  large  body  of  the  reformers.  In  1517  Lu- 
ther nailed  his  theses  to  the  door  of  the  church  in  Wittenberg. 
In  1648  the  peace  of  Westphalia  was  signed.  The  intervening 
era  marks  the  uprising  of  the  people  against  their  oppressors.  It 
was  a  struggle  for  political  freedom,  for  intellectual  freedom,  for 
religious  freedom. 


386  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

When  once  men  began  to  think  they  dared  to  think  in  the 
face  of  the  frowns  of  a  tyrant.  And  when  once  men  (hired  to 
believe,  they  dared  to  believe  though  the  stake  or  the  tortures 
uf  the  inquisition  awaited  them.  P^ver  since  Charlesmagne  had 
made  his  donations  to  the  church  the  Popes  had  asserted  temporal 
power.  Political  and  religious  questions  were  so  intermingled 
that  the  jealousies  and  ambitions  of  princes  protracted  the  con- 
flict between  Catholics  and  Protestants  and  made  it  possible  for 
Ferdinand  to  pass  into  the  Beyond  with  the  stain  of  ten  million 
lives  on  his  soul.  These  political  complications  together  with 
the  mutual  jealousies  of  Lutherans  and  Calvinistes  sometime  ar- 
rayed Catholic  against  Catholic  and  Protestant  against  Protes- 
tant. "  The  lover  of  pure  religion  reads  of  the  lukewarmness  of 
Protestant  princes,  and  the  jealousies  that  protracted  the  bloody 
conflict  and  is  forcibly  reminded  of  the  divine  lament  over  rebel- 
lious Israel:  "0,  that  they  were  wise  that  they  understood  this, 
that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end !  How  should  one 
chase  a  thousand  and  two  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,  except  their 
rock  had  sold  them  and  the  Lord  had  shut  them  up?"  For  all 
this  the  general  trend  of  this  chequered  narrative  is  onward  and 
upward.  Then  as  now.  "A  man  is  a  man  for  a'  that.'  And 
'there  were  giants  in  those  days.'  Cardinal  Richelieu  unprinci- 
paled  but  world-renowned  for  his  statecraft,  died  a  few  months 
before  this  assembly  convened.  Contemporary  with  the  men  of 
the  assembly  were  Galileo  the  scientist,  and  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
who  in  his  last  battle  led,  his  intrepid  warriors  into  the  fight  sing- 
ing Luther's  hymn,  "Our  God,  He  is  a  Tower  of  Strength."  And 
though  the  hero  was  buried  under  a  heap  of  dead,  and  trampled 
on  by  horses,  he  had  given  the  enemy  a  blow  from  which  they 
never  recovered.  To  the  generation  preceding  this  belonged  the 
noble  Conde,  the  princely  Coligni,  and  the  illustrious  Henry  of 
Navarre.  In  that  generation  strode  the  majestic  figure  of  "Wil- 
liam the  Silent,  who  to  crush  the  tyrant's  power  cried  "Break 
down  the  dikes,  give  Holland  back  to  the  ocean,"  and  Europe 
said  sublime!  Nor  must  we  forget  that  the  boyhood  of  the  men 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly  was  passed  amid  the  splendors  of 
the  Elizabethan  era  of  literature.  Of  that  era  an  historian  has 
said.  "Not  the  age  of  Pericles  in  Greece,  the  Augustinian  age  of 
Roman  letters,  the  age  of  the  Medici  in  Italy,  or  of  Louis  XIV 
in  France  was  equal  to  the  era  of  Elizabeth  in  its  splendid  out- 
burst of  intellectual  activity." 

It  was  then  that  Shakespeare  wrote  his  37  plays  in  which 
"he  has  poured  forth  for  us  and  for  posterity  the  swelling,  the 
heroic  the  sublime  symphonies  of  love  and  battle,  mingled  with 
the   mutterings   of  remorse,   the  cooings  of  hope,   the  dying  ac- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  387 

cents  of  despair."  It  was  then  that  Francis  Bacon  lived,  of 
whom  it  has  been  said  "A  brain  as  luminous  as  that  of  Plato — 
a  thinker,  a  philosopher — an  iconiclast  knocking  the  bust  of  Ar- 
istotle from  the  pedestal  of  scholasticism ;  too  great  to  be  appre- 
ciated and  too  weak  to  be  great ;  such  was  Francis  Bacon,  found- 
er of  the  inductive  philosophy  which  has  carried  us  beyond  the 
pale  of  medieval  learning,  laid  our  hand  gently  on  the  hand  of 
nature,  and  taught  us  to  know." 

Thirty-two  years  before  the  Assembly  convened  our  author- 
ized version  of  the  Bible  was  made.  In  some  places  the  revisers 
may  have  given  us  a  more  accurate  translation  and  they  may 
have  followed  better  manuscript  texts ;  but  as  an  English  classic 
and  for  its  formative  influence  on  our  mother  tongue  the  author- 
ized version  remains  the  despair  of  translators.  Less  than  twenty 
years  after  the  close  of  the  Assembly,  Milton  wrote  the  one  great 
epic  of  the  English  language.  Thus  to  a  period  of  less  than  100 
years  belong  the  philosophy  of  Bacon,  the  dramas  of  Shakes- 
peare, the  King  James  version  of  the  Bible,  the  landing  of  the 
pilgrims,  the  Westminster  confession  of  faith  and  Paradise  Lost 
— and  I  am  not  the  man  to  say  that  the  Confession  of  Faith  is  the 
least  of  these. 

To  understand  rightly  the  religious  conditions  of  the  times 
a  brief  sketch  of  the  reformation  in  England  is  essential.  That 
reformation  was  outwardly  effected  by  the  breach  between 
Henry  VIII  and  the  Pope.  Henry  Tudor  was  a  king  who  had  a 
convenient  and  elastic  conscience.  Not  until  he  had  become 
enamored  of  the  charms  of  Anne  Boleyn  did  his  conscience  tell 
him  it  was  wicked  to  live  in  wedlock  with  his  deceased  broth- 
er's widow.  The  queen  in  question  was  the  aunt  of  Charles  V. 
and  for  this  reason  Pope  Clement  VII.  found  it  impolitic  to  as- 
sent to  the  annulling  of  the  king's  marriage.  But  the  royal  pas- 
sion of  a  Tudor  under  the  guise  of  a  tender  conscience  would  not 
brook  the  opposition  of  a  Pope.  In  rapid  succession  came  the 
fall  of  Wolsey,  the  elevation  of  Cranmer.  the  secret  marriage 
with  Anne,  the  divorcement  of  Catherine,  the  birth  of  Elizabeth, 
the  disestablishment  of  the  monasteries  and  nunneries  and  the 
establishing  of  the  king  as  head  of  the  church. 

Henry  Tudor  who  now  usurped  the  place  claimed  by  the  old 
man  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber — but  belonging  rightly  to  King 
Emmanuel— was  the  same  king  whom  that  piece  of  infallibility 
had  egregiously  styled  "The  Defender  of  the  Faith."  Henry  had 
six  wives  and  three  children  and  although  the  whims  of  the  king 
made  the  logic  of  events  pronounce  both  of  his  daughters  ille- 
gitimate, they  in  turn  after  their  brother  sat  on  the  English 
throne. 


388  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

During  the  reiyn  of  Kdwanl  VI.  the  rupture  with  Rome  be- 
ciunc  more  complete.  It  wns  detei'iniued  to  make  the  religious 
doctrine  and  practice  conform  to  the  standard  of  the  reforma- 
tion. The  English  prayer  book  was  prepared.  A  law  was  pass- 
ed forbidding  the  enforced  celibacy  of  the  clergy.  The  remain- 
ing monasteries  and  nunneries  were  suppressed-  And  Cranmer 
and  the  Protestants  formulated  a  new  creed.  This  creed  consist- 
ed at  first  of  42  articles  but  was  afterward  reduced  to  39.  It 
was  not  materially  different  from  the  Calvinistic  creeds  of  tha 
continent.  At  the  death  of  Edward,  Mary  became  queen  of  a 
people  to  whom  her  person  and  religion  were  repugnant.  Nor 
did  her  marriage  with  the  infamous  Philip  of  Spain  ingratiate* 
her  with  the  people.  The  Catholic  reaction  under  bloody  Marx- 
was  short  lived.  Even  members  of  parliament  exulted  in  the 
death  of  a  queen  who  could  inflict  martyrdom  on  such  man  as 
Ridley  and  Latimer. 

Elizabeth  was  a  Protestant  by  the  exigencies  of  her  birth. 
Had  she  professed  anything  else  she  would  have  virtually  sanc- 
tioned the  decree  of  her  own  illegitimacy.  If  at  heart  the  queen 
had  a  religion  it  was  probably  Catholic.  During  her  reign  Ro- 
manizing and  high  church  tendencies  were  prevalent.  Ridpath 
says  as  a  result  of  her  preference,  "The  church  of  England  took 
its  station  between  the  high  flown  formalism  of  Rome  and  the 
utter  non-formalism  of  the  sectaries — that  St.  Paul's  cathedral 
until  this  day  stands  midway  between  St.  Peter's  and  a  Quaker 
meeting  house." 

Then  arose  that  conflict  with  the  Puritans. 

James  Stuart — the  successor  of  Elizabeth— had  all  he  want- 
ed of  Presbytery  in  Scotland.  And  Charles  I.  was  intent  on  car- 
rying out  his  principles  of  absolutism. 

But  whence  came  that  mighty  force  that  abjured  ritualism, 
that  decried  prelacy,  that  contended  earnestly  for  the  reformed 
faith,  that  sought  purity  of  heart  and  life?  Was  it  the  offspring 
of  the  lustful  Henry  VIII.,  Thomas  Cranmer  and  Thomas  Crom- 
well, kings,  queens  and  archbishops  ?  Nay  verily !  It  has  been 
said  that  England  had  no  Luther  in  the  16th  century  because  she 
had  her  Luther  in  the  14th.  The  influence  of  Wyclif  "the  morn- 
ing star  of  the  reformation,"  never  waned.  Side  by  side  with 
the  external  reformation  of  Henry  and  Cranmer  and  Edward  VI. 
was  a  spiritual  reformation.  The  Lollards  were  in  England,  and 
William  Tyndal  was  there.  And  it  has  been  said  that  Puritanism 
was  there  100  years  before  it  had  a  name.  The  flower  of  this 
pristine  Puritanism  sheds  its  fragrance  in  the  twentieth  chapter 
of  the  confession:  "God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience,  and 
hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  389 

which  are  in  anything  contrary  to  his  word,  or  beside  it,  in  mat- 
ters of  faith  or  worship."  For  this  principle  the  reformers  con- 
tended during  the  reigns  of  the  Tudors  and  the  first  two  Stuarts. 

The  reformers  in  England  were  doctrinally  at  one  with  the 
reformers  in  Scotland,  Holland,  and  Switzerland.  The  early  lea- 
ders of  the  established  church  admitted  that  there  was  no  essen- 
tial difference  between  bishop  and  Presbyter,  and  many  of  them 
were  inclined  to  grant  concessions  to  the  Puritans  in  the  nature 
of  a  simpler  ritual.  But  formal  and  fawning  prelates  sided  with 
the  crown.  Weak  men  suppressed  their  convictions.  Liturgists 
were  elevated  to  places  of  prominence.  Puritans  were  martyred 
or  driven  into  exile  in  Holland  or  America.  Royalty  and  Episco- 
pacy were  arrayed  against  Parliament  and  Puritanism.  Parlia- 
ment became  Puritan  and  the  Westminster  Assembly  was  call- 
ed. The  official  call  of  the  Assembly  is  entitled:  "An  ordinance 
of  the  Lords  and  Commons  assembled  in  Parliament,  for  the  call- 
ing of  an  assembly  of  learned  and  godly  divines,  and  others,  to 
be  consulted  with  by  Parliament,  for  the  settling  of  the  govern- 
ment and  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England,  and  for  vindicating 
and  clearing  of  the  doctrine  of  the  said  church  from  false  asper- 
sions and  interpretations.    Passed  June  12,  1643." 

This  ordinance  declares  that  "many  things  remain  in  the 
liturgy,  discipline,  and  government  of  the  church,  which  do  nec- 
essarily require  a  further  and  more  perfect  reformation  than  as 
yet  hath  been  attained;"  "That  the  present  church  government 
by  archbishops,  bishops,  their  chancellors,  commissaries,  deans, 
deans  and  chapters,  archdeacons,  and  other  ecclesiastical  officers 
depending  upon  the  hierarchy,  is  evil  and  justly  offensive  and 
burdensome  to  the  kingdom  *  *  *  that  the  same  shall  be  taken 
away,  and  that  such  a  government  shall  be  settled  in  the  church 
as  may  be  most  agreeable  to  God's  Holy  Word  and  most  apt  to 
procure  and  preserve  the  peace  of  the  church  at  home  and  nearer 
agreement  with  the  church  of  Scotland  and  other  reformed 
churches  abroad." 

The  Assembly  as  originally  constituted  by  ordinance  was 
composed  of  121  ministers  and  thirty  lay  assessors.  Others  were 
added  from  time  to  time,  chiefly  to  fill  the  vacancies  made  by  re- 
fusal to  attend  or  by  death.  The  Assembly  convened  July  1, 
1643,  in  Henry  VII.  chapel  of  Westminster  Abbey.  About  2% 
months  were  occupied  with  the  revision  of  the  39  articles.  But 
when  Parliament  found  it  necessary  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  Scots 
and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  was  taken,  the  Scottish 
commissioners  were  admitted  and  the  scope  of  its  purpose  was 
enlarged. 

Henceforth,   meeting  in  the  Jerusalem     chamber,  they  ad- 


390  Presbvterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

dressed  themselves  to  the  task  of  formulating  new  standards. 
The  men  of  this  assembly  had  plenty  of  Learning,  Linguistic,  pat- 
ristic, oriental  and  biblical.  On  the  meaner  salary  of  less  than 
$1.00  a  day  they  assembled  from  year  to  year.  They  debated, 
searched  the  scriptures,  fasted  and  prayed.  Their  task  of  formu- 
lating the  Westminster  standards  was  completed  in  1648;  and 
although  the  Assembly  was  never  formally  adjourned,  "it  dwind- 
led by  degrees  and  vanished  with  the  Parliament  that  gave  it 
birth.'" 

Most  of  these  divines  were  in  Episcopal  orders  when  called 
to  the  Assembly,  three  or  four  were  bishops.  There  were  those 
who  favored  the  continuance  of  Episcopacy ;  others  were  Inde- 
pendents, but  the  majority  were  Presbyterians.  Baxter  said : 
"The  divines  there  congregated  were  men  of  eminent  learning 
and  godliness,  and  ministerial  abilities  and  fidelity ;  and  being 
not  worthy  to  be  one  of  them  myself,  I  may  the  more  freely 
speak  that  truth  which  I  know  even  in  the  face  of  malice  and 
envy  that,  as  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge  by  the  information  of  all 
history — the  Christian  world  since  the  days  of  the  apostles  had 
never  a  Synod  of  more  excellent  divines." 

I  quote  now  from  Johnson's  encyclopedia:  "The  Westmin- 
ster Divines  had  learning  scriptural,  patristic,  scholastic,  and 
modern,  enough  and  to  spare,  all  solid,  substantial  and  ready  for 
use.  Hence  their  work  has  stood  the  test  of  time  and  is  still  val- 
ued and  honored.  Almost  all  of  them  were  graduates  of  Ox- 
ford and  Cambridge.  Several  of  them  had  been  honored  to  suf- 
fer in  defense  of  the  truths  they  taught,  and  many  of  them  had 
the  courage  afterward  to  bear  suffering,  insult,  and  poverty  ra- 
ther than  renounce  their  creed,  or  abandon  their  views  of  church 
polity  and  discipline. 

Twisse,  the  prolocutor  of  the  Assembly,  was  a  man  not  only 
of  subtle  and  speculative  genius,  but  also  of  profound  learning. 
Herle,  who  succeeded  him  as  prolocutor,  was,  according  to  Ful- 
ler, 'so  much  Christian,  scholar  and  gentleman  that  he  could 
unite  in  affection,  with  those  who  were  disjoined  in  judgment 
from  him.'  White  and  Burgess  *  *  *  were  both  men  of  acknowl- 
edged eminence.  *  *  *  Reynolds  was  a  divine  'eloquent,  learned, 
cautious  and  at  the  restoration  was  made  b;shop  of  Norwich. 
Calamy  was  a  more  cautious  and  liberal  Calvinist  still ;  he.  too, 
was  offered  but  declined  a  bishopric.  Arrowsmith.  'the  man  with 
the  glass  eye,'  and  Tuckney  *  *  *  successively  professors  of  di- 
vinity at  Cambridge,  were  men  of  high  scholarship.  *  *  *  Staun- 
ton was  a  "walking  concordance;'  Seaman,  an  'invincible  dis- 
putant;' Lightfoot.  Coleman  and  Gataker  were  all  distinguished 
oriental  scholars;  and  the  last  named,  after  Issuer  and  Solden 
*  *  *  was  accounted  the  most  learned  man  in  England.     The  age 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  391 

is  acknowledged  to  have  been  an  age  of  great  preachers,  and  in 
the  first  rank  among  these  fall  to  be  numbered  the  following 
members:  Gouge,  on  whose  preaching  Ussher  and  others  con- 
gregated in  the  metropolis  did  not  disdain  to  attend ;  Manton,  in 
whom  'clear  judgment,  rich  fancy  and  happy  eloquence  met;' 
Marshall,  whose  yet  more  impressive  oratory  is  said  to  have  se- 
cured for  him  greater  influence  with  the  Parliament  than  ever 
Laud  enjoyed  with  the  court ;  Calamy,  who  delighted  in  that  ex- 
perimental strain  of  discourse  which  ever  touches  the  hearts  of 
men ;  Burroughs  and  Greenhill,  '  the  morning  and  evening  stars  of 
Stephany;'  Hoyle,  who  'reigned  in  schools  and  pulpit;'  Palmer, 
who  could  preach  ably  and  attractively  in  French  as  well  as  in 
English;  Caryl,  long  popular  with  the  learned  audience  of  Lin- 
coln's Inn;  and  Goodwin,  one  of  the  most  successful  expository 
preachers  of  the  age. 

With  these  were  associated  the  very  elite  of  the  Scottish  min- 
isters and  elders.  Henderson,  whose  learning  and  culture  even 
royalty  acknowledged;  Rutherford,  twice  invited  to  a  professor- 
ship in  Holland ;  Gillespie,  prince  of  disputants,  who  with  the  fire 
of  youth  had  the  wisdom  of  age;  and  Baillie  *  *  *  Johnstone, 
and  the  great  Marquis  of  Argyll,  who  both  suffered  afterward  on 
account  of  their  principles;  Loudan  and  Lord  Maitland." 

Such  were  the  times  and  such  were  the  men  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly.  When  we  remember  that  they  were  at  work 
on  our  subordinate  standards  nearly  five  years  we  must  be  con- 
vinced that  they  did  their  work  thoroughly. 

What  of  the  future  ?  The  Presbyterian  churches  are  not  the 
largest  in  this  country;  our  church  has  yielded  an  influence  for 
righteousness  second  to  none.  It  will  probably  never  be  as  large 
as  some — -at  least  as  long  as  men  unduly  emphasize  forms  and 
ceremonies  or  love  an  easy  religion. 

But  as  long  as  she  remains  true  to  her  history  and  traditions ; 
as  long  as  infidelity,  rationalism  and  materialism  demand  a  cour- 
ageous and  uncompromising  foe ;  as  long  as  men  exalt  the  Word 
of  God  as  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice ;  as  long  as 
men  believe  that  "God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience;"  and  as 
long  as  men  love  liberty  and  righteousness,  so  long  the  outlook 
of  Presbyterianism  is  "as  bright  as  the  promises  of  God." 

Sometimes  too  slow  to  get  to  the  front,  sometimes  cultivat- 
ing other  vineyards  to  the  neglect  of  her  own,  sometimes  unpop- 
ular with  the  ignorant  and  always  so  with  the  vile  the  Presby- 
terian church  has  not  grown  in  this  country  as  it  should.  But  I 
believe  with  the  general  diffusion  of  intelligence  in  which  she 
has  a  conspicuous  part  her  growth  will  be  more  rapid. 


392  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

FOREFATHERS'  DAY  ADDRESS. 

(Delivered  before  the  Congregational  Club  of  Springfield,  Mo., 
December  21,  1899.) 

N.  B. — This  address  was  the  last  of  a  series  delivered  by- 
clergymen  of  different  denominations,  and  was  interspersed 
with  extempore  parts.  The  Episcopal  clergyman  objected  be- 
cause he  did  not  have  the  last  word  and  proclaimed  the  Episco- 
pacy of  Washington.  The  speaker  admitted  the  fact  that  Wash- 
ington was  an  Episcopalian,  but  retorted  that  he  was  so  depend- 
ent on  Presbyterians  to  sustain  him  in  arms  that  at  the  close  of 
the  Revolution  as  an  appreciation  he  gave  $40,000  to  found  a 
Presbyterian  college  in  his  own  State. 

De  Tocqueville  has  said:  "By  the  side  of  every  religion  is 
to  be  found  a  political,  opinion  connected  with  it  by  affinity.  If 
the  human  mind  be  left  to  follow  its  own  bent  it  will  regulate  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  institutions  of  society  in  a  uniform  man- 
ner, and  man  will  endeavor,  if  I  may  so  speak,  to  harmonize  earth 
with  heaven."  The  political  opinion  that  is  in  affinity  with 
Presbyterianism  is  republicanism.  John  Knox  told  Mary:  "If 
princes  exceed  their  bounds  they  may  be  resisted  by  force." 
Froude  calls  this  utteranee  "The  creed  of  republics  in  its  first 
hard  form." 

I  hold  with  those  who  maintain  that  a  man's  conception  of 
Deity  have  a  controlling  influence  in  the  formation  of  his  char- 
acter and  the  regulation  of  his  conduct.  The  unfaithful  servant 
in  the  parable  excused  his  idleness  by  saying:  "I  knew  thee, 
that  thou  art  an  hard  man."  His  conduct  was  regulated  not  by 
the  master's  character,  but  by  the  servant's  conception  thereof. 
The  stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  that  has  made  Presbyterianism 
the  foremost  friend  and  champion  of  liberty,  civil  and  religious, 
is  the  sovereignty  of  God.  God's  freeman  cannot  long  be  slave 
to  any  man.  This  basic  principle  is  the  common  heritage  of  all 
Calvinistic  bodies.  The  opponents  of  Calvinism,  and  especially 
the  self-styled  "liberals"  in  religion,  have  thought  of  this  system 
as  the  unfaithful  servant  thought  of  his  master.  They  dismiss  it 
with  a  sneer  and  a  taunt  as  harsh  and  unrelenting.  When  the 
Almighty  wished  to  convince  Job  of  his  ignorance  and  impotence 
He  asked:  "Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earth?"  And  Calvinism,  without  boasting,  asks  its  enemies: 
"Where  wert  thou  when  I  was  fighting  the  battles  of  freedom  in 
every  civilized  country  that  possesses  that  priceless  boon?" 

Lest  this  be  thought  the  fulsome  panegyric  of  an  intense 
partisan  let  me  call  to  the  witness  stand  men  who  personally 
have  not  fondness  for  Calvinism.     Buckle,  the  unbeliever,  says: 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  393 

"Wherever  it  has  gone — in  France,  Switzerland,  Britain,  Amer- 
ica— the  Calvinistic  faith  has  shown  itself  the  unfailing  friend  of 
constitutional  liberty."  James  Anthony  Fronde,  in  his  earlier 
writings,  vented  his  spleen  on  this  system  of  faith ;  but  with  a 
mature  acquaintance  with  history  he  wrote :  "It  has  been  able  to 
inspire  the  bravest  efforts  ever  made  by  man  to  break  the  yoke 
of  unjust  authority.  And  Bancroft,  a  Unitarian,  testifies:  "He 
that  will  not  honor  the  memory  and  respect  the  influence  of  Calvin 
knows  but  little  of  the  origin  of  American  independense." 

In  the  cornerstone  of  the  temple  of  the  great  American  re- 
public there  lie  imbedded  three  great  ideas:  (1)  God  is  the  Sov- 
ereign of  the  universe;  (2)  The  idea  of  a  self-reliant,  heroic 
manhood;  (3)  The  courage  to  fight  and  to  die  for  the  rights  of 
humanity  and  the  lordship  of  truth.  John  Calvin  is  the  personifi- 
cation of  the  first.  Admiral  Coligny  is  the  loftiest  type  of  the  dig- 
nity of  man.  "Reserved  and  cautious,  it  required  the  consecrated 
enthusiasm  of  his  noble  wife  to  rouse  him  to  arms.  He  hesitated, 
not  from  cowardice,  but  from  conscience;  not  from  timidity,  but 
tenderness.  Shrinking  from  the  sorrows  that  would  come  upon 
her,  he  offered  her  eight  days  to  consider  whether  he  should 
plunge  to  the  rescue  of  Protestantism.  With  Spartan  spirit  she 
cried:  'The  eight  days  are  past  already.'  This  parted  the  last 
strand  that  held  him  to  Rome.  Distinctly  renouncing  every  hu- 
man ambition,  exclaiming,  'in  the  name  of  Jehovah  we  will  set  up 
our  banners,'  he  advanced  to  the  conflict.  *  *  *  More  unselfish 
than  Cromwell,  as  true  as  Washington,  as  devout  as  Adolphus,  he 
is  *  *  *  the  very  ideal  of  Christian  heroism."  And  John 
Knox,  who  never  feared  the  face  of  man,  who  could  not  be 
swerved  by  flattery  or  frown,  is  the  embodiment  of  our  third 
idea.  It  was  the  men  who  had  the  precepts  of  Calvin,  the  image 
of  Coligny  and  the  inspiring  valor  of  Knox  in  their  hearts  who 
founded  this  republic.  And  here  let  me  speak  a  word  to  those 
who  fancy  that  Christian  harmony  and  co-operation  are  the 
product  of  the  closing  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century.  We  get 
up  and  speak  as  if  this  were  a  new  thing  under  the  sun.  I  can 
imagine  our  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  forefathers  looking 
over  the  battlements  of  heaven  as  some  of  us  talk  about  this  new 
spirit  of  harmony  and  good  feeling  and  asking  us:  "Where  were 
you  when  we  Presbyterians  and  Congregation alists  were  working 
together  under  the  plan  of  union  by  which  Congregational  pas- 
tors of  Presbyterian  churches  sat  in  Presbytery,  or  Presbyterian 
clergy  in  charge  of  Congregational  churches  sat  in  Congregational 
councils?  Where  were  you  when  for  sixty  years  we  together  sent 
missionaries  through  the  American  board?"  When  at  last  there 
was  a  separation  there  was  a  division  of  the  spoils,  eongregation- 
alists  taking  the  Board  and  a  part  of  the  mission  stations.     Other 


394  Presbyterianism  ix  the  Ozarks 

stations  were  amicably  turned  over  to  the  Presbyterians.  And  it 
seems  to  me  there  has  been  another  division  of  the  spoils  by  which 
in  popular  conception  Congregationalists  are  considered  the  lineal 
heirs  of  the  Puritans  and  Pilgrim  lathers  and  Presbyterianism  has 
become  a  synonym  of  Calvinism.  This;  division  is  nnhistorical. 
Calvinism  is  our  common  heritage,  whilst  on  the  other  hand  Rob-' 
inson  claimed  that  his  church  in  Leyden — the  mother  church  of 
the  Plymouth  colony — was  of  the  same  government  as  the 
Protestant  church  of  France.  That  was  essentially  Presbyterian. 
The  Plymouth  colony  had  in  its  ruling  elder  Brewster,  who  in- 
sisted on  the  distinction  between  the  ruling  and  the  teaching 
elder.  And  the  early  churches  of  Salem.  Charlestown  and  Boston 
had  ruling  elders. 

And  now  let  me  say  with  due  deference  to  "mine  host"  that 
while  Congregationalism  gained  the  ascendancy  in  New  England, 
Presbyterianism  was  the  leaven  that  was  scattered  throughout  the 
colonies.  "Coming  to  these  shores  one  by  one  and  scattered 
throughout  all  the  colonies  Presbyterians,  like  the  tribe  of  Levi, 
had  none  inheritance  in  the  land."  By  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  New  York,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  were  over- 
whelmingly Presbyterian.  "In  1775  Presbyterians  and  Congrega- 
tionalists combined  had  the  ecclessiastical  control  of  the  American 
colonies."  Puritans,  Covenanters,  Huguenots,  Scotch,  Scotch- 
Irish  and  German  refugees  from  the  Paletinate  fled  to  the  asylum 
of  the  oppressed.  But  from  South  Carolina  to  New  Hampshire  the 
power  of  the  government  was  exerted  to  give  the  established 
church  the  ascendancy.  The  powerful  Presbyterian  Church  in 
New  York  could  not  even  get  a  title  to  a  burying  spot  for  its  dead. 
More  than  a  year  before  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  the  Scotch-Irish  in 
one  county  of  North  Carolina  declared  their  independence.  And 
these  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  are  said  to  be  the  only  race  in 
America  that  never  gave  birth  to  a  Tory.  Bancroft  says :  ' '  The 
first  voice  publicly  raised  in  America  to  dissolve  all  connection 
with  Great  Britain  came,  not  from  the  Puritans  of  New  England, 
nor  from  the  Dutch  of  New  York,  nor  from  the  planters  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  from  the  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  of  North  Carolina." 
And  Washington  declared  that  "Should  all  his  plans  be  crushed, 
he  would  plant  his  standard  on  the  Blue  Ridge,  and,  rallying 
round  him  the  Scotch-Irish,  make  a  final  and  successful  stand  for 
freedom  on  the  Virginia  frontier." 

And  what  part  did  Presbyterians  play  in  the  formation  of  a 
blood-bought  republic?  Chief  Justice  Tilghman  said:  "The 
framers  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  were  greatly  in- 
debted to  the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland 
in  modeling  their  admirable  instrument."  Hon.  W.  C.  Preston, 
of  South  Carolina,  also  savs:    "Certainlv  it  was  a  remarkable  and 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  395 

singular  coincidence  that  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  should  bear  such  a  close  and  striking  resemblance  to  the 
political  Constitution  of  our  country.  *  *  *  The  two  may  be 
supposed  to  be  formed  after  the  same  model.'' 

In  these  constitutions  the  representative  system  in  legislation 
and  the  appellate  system  in  jurisprudence  are  fundamental.  Dr. 
George  P.  Hays  says:  "The  nation  tried  the  'independent' 
method  of  government  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation.  Those 
articles  made  the  general  government  a  national  council,  with  lib- 
erty to  advise  anything,  and  power  to  enforce  nothing.  The  new 
Constitution  of  Madison,  Jefferson  and  Hamilton,  which  was 
adopted  by  the  states  in  that  memorable  year,  1778,  was  simply 
the  representative  republicanism  of  Presbyterian  Church  govern- 
ment applied  to  the  Nation." 

The  name  of  John  Witherspoon  is  under  that  of  Hancock  in 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  One  of  John  Witherspoon 's 
pupils  framed  our  Constitution.  The  name  of  John  Witherspoon 
is  "the  only  name  of  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  that  is  graven  on 
the  pedestal  of  a  civic  statue  on  the  American  soil."  The  United 
States  of  America  have  been  called  the  United  States  of  Holland, 
amplified,  refined,  perpetuated.  From  that  Calvinistic  Dutch  re- 
public we  borrowed  the  ideas  of  a  written  Constitution,  the  sep- 
aration of  church  and  state,  the  motto  of  our  republic,  the  free- 
dom of  the  press,  the  secret-written  ballot,  the  reform  in  laws  con- 
cerning the  rights  of  married  women,  and  the  principle  that  all 
men  were  created  equal.  And  as  to  our  debt  to  the  Huguenots: 
"Their  mark  is  on  all  our  greatness."  The  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  is  a  transplanted  and  grafted  tree.  "The 
soil  of  Switzerland  is  in  its  roots,  the  blood  of  Holland  is  in  its 
veins,  the  free  breath  of  Scotland  is  in  its  leaves."  We  hear  it 
said  that  general  intelligence  is  a  prime  necessity  of  a  successful 
republic.  Bancroft,  the  Unitarian,  whom  I  like  to  quote,  said 
John  Calvin  is  the  father  of  the  American  common  school  system. 
This  has  been  disputed.  It  is  said  rather  that  he  is  the  ancestor 
who  handed  down  the  heritage  through  Knox  and  John  of 
Nassau.  But  it  makes  little  difference  whether  we  call  Calvin  the 
father  or  the  grandfather.  We  all  know  the  Presbyterian  posi- ' 
tion  in  reference  to  education.  Indeed  it  is  sometimes  said  that 
the  Presbyterian  Church  fails  among  the  ignorant  and  the  poor. 
Now  the  explanation  of  this  is  when  we  put  them  through  the 
mental  gymnastics  of  the  Shorter  Catechism  they  won't  stay  ig- 
norant ;  and  our  theology  makes  men  of  more  worth  in  the  com- 
mercial market  on  account  of  integrity  and  loyalty  to  duty  so 
that  they  won't  stay  poor.  It  is  a  significant  fact  that  the  statis- 
tics of  1886  show  that  60  per  cent,  of  college  students  are  in 
schools  that  may  fairly  be  regarded  as  Calvinistic,  and  23  per 


396  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

cent,  of  all  arc  under  Presbyterian  control.  Thus  Sy^  per  cent,  of 
the  population  educates  23  per  cent,  of  the  college  students.  The 
self-styled  "liberals"  and  advanced  thinkers  sometimes  frighten 
us  (almost).  But  where  are  the  colleges  they  founded.  They  be- 
gan this  century  by  stealing  Harvard,  and  it  may  be  they  will 
close  it  by  stealing  Andover  and  Union  Seminaries.  But  do  not 
get  frightened  above  measure.  In  1850  evangelical  churches  had 
40,000  congregations.  In  1886  the  number  had  swelled  to  120.000. 
In  1850  the  "liberals"  had  1,300.  In  1886  there  were  26  less. 
And  if  they  have  a  respectable  organization  for  home  or  foreign 
missions  I  have  failed  to  hear  of  it. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  members  of  this  Club,  the  old  truths  are 
not  dead.  We  are  not  called  to  the  stake  and  the  rack.  We  do 
not  have  to  defend  our  liberties  as  did  Knox.  Our  enemies  are 
different.  Hence  "we  do  not  arm  ourselves  cap-a-pie  as  our 
fathers  did."  "Today  the  Sovereignty  of  our  God  is  called  in 
question  in  other  ways.  Science  denies  that  this  universe  of  His, 
that  stretches  out  before  our  eyes,  our  intelligences  and  imagina- 
tions, does  conform  to  the  teaching  of  His  book  *  *  *  The 
enemies  of  God  no  longer  deny  the  equality  of  men,  but  they  give 
a  certain  apotheosis  to  human  nature  and  thereby  bring  man 
above  his  Divine  Master.  But  the  old  faith  that  has  stood  for  the 
honor  of  God  will  uphold  that  honor  still.  "It  may  be  modified 
in  the  form  of  utterance,  or  the  formulation  of  its  creed;  but  in 
its  essential  substance  it  will  never  be  modified,  until  that  Jeru- 
salem coming  down  out  of  the  skies  shall  come  down  and  dwell 
among  men."  The  men  wrho  will  meet  these  new  enemies  of  the 
cross  may  not  be  asked  to  lay  down  their  lives,  but  they  are  the 
worthy  descendants  of  the  Martyr  Stephen,  of  those  who 
smouldered  on  the  fires  of  Smithfield,  wet  the  soil  of  Boynton 
with  their  blood,  or  followed  Coligny,  Conde,  William  the  Silent 
and  Cromwell.  The  world  needs  heroism  today  as  much  as  ever. 
And  if  Christendom  is  ever  to  present  a  united  face  to  the  foe  it 
will  be  when  we  emblazon  on  our  banners  loyalty  to  the  Lordship 
of  the  truth  and  the  Kingship  of  Christ.  Then  will  be  given  God 
the  honor  that  is  His  due.  Thomas  Carlyle  said:  "The  older  I 
grow,  and  I  now  stand  on  the  brink  of  Eternity,  the  more  comes 
back  to  me  the  first  sentence  in  the  Catechism  which  I  learned 
when  a  child,  and  the  fuller  and  deeper  its  meaning  becomes: 
'What  is  the  chief  end  of  man?'  'To  glorify  God  and  enjoy  Him 
forever.'  " 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  397 

TWO  HUNDRED  YEARS  OF  ORGANIZED  PRESBYTERIAN- 
ISM. 


(Delivered  at  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Springfield,  Mo., 

April  29,  1906.) 

Dr.  William  Henry  Roberts  is  authority  for  the  statement 
that  two  hundred  years  ago  this  spring  the  first  Presbytery  in 
the  territory  now  known  as  the  United  States  was  organized  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  records  of  this  first  meeting  are  lost, 
as  are  also  the  first  two  pages  of  the  records  of  the  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  held  in  December  of  the  same  year.  This  General 
Presbytery,  as  it  was  called,  had  on  its  roll  the  names  of  seven 
ministers,  and  at  its  December  meeting  ordained  to  the  Gospel 
ministry  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  John  Boyd.  ' '  The  General 
Presbytery  was  the  first  organized  Christian  body  of  a  denomina- 
tional character  within  the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  United 
States  of  America.  It  was  altogether  independent  of  European 
control,  and  in  addition  was  strictly  popular  and  republican  in 
its  government." 

We  are  not  to  understand  by  this  that  Presbyterianism  in  the 
United  States  is  only  200  years  old.  Years  before  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  first  Presbytery  ministers  of  apostolic  zeal  and  fervor 
were  journeying  from  settlement  to  settlement  preaching  the  ever- 
lasting Gospel,  baptizing  households,  ministering  to  the  sick  and 
burying  the  dead ;  and  churches  sprang  up  here  and  there,  espec- 
ially in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  Delaware 
and  New  York. 

It  may  be  asked.  Why  were  the  Protestant  churches  so  late 
in  assuming  organized  form  in  this  land?  Four  hundred  and  four- 
teen years  ago  Columbus  discovered  the  New  World.  Let  it  be 
noted  that  American  history  for  the  first  half  of  these  years  covers 
very  few  pages.  Yet  marvellous  things  were  transpiring  in  Eu- 
rope. Within  the  first  century  after  the  discovery  of  America  the 
printing  press  and  the  Protestant  Reformation  had  been  intro- 
duced, modern  monarchies  were  consolidating  under  Charles  V, 
Francis  I,  Henry  VIII  and  Philip  of  Spain,  whilst  the  century 
closed  with  that  gigantic  struggle  between  Protestantism  and 
Catholicism  still  waging.  Remember,  too,  the  Soanish  explorers 
landed  in  the  South.  Moved  mainly  by  ambition,  romance  and 
avarice,  they  yet  had  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  Roman  Church,  and  in 
taking  posession  of  a  new  country  by  conquest  they  pacified  their 
consciences  by  calling  it  the  conversion  of  the  natives.     Such  was 


398  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

the  "Conquest  of  Mexico"  and  the  "Conquest  of  Peru."  The 
countries  thus  conquered  are  admirable  in  climate  and  rich  in 
minerals;  and  yet,  in  both  these  lands  the  Roman  Church  sits 
bankrupt  at  the  mouth  of  their  inexhaustible  mines,  and  the  peo- 
ple, even  when  rich,  have  neither  enterprise,  inventions,  modern 
civilization  nor  good  government.  Not  till  1620,  128  years  after 
the  discovery  of  America,  did  the  Puritans  come  to  New  England. 
The  next  eighty-six  years  saw  vast  throngs  of  people  driven  to  our 
shores  by  persecution  and  in  quest  of  a  place  to  worship  God  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  conscience.  These  were  the  years  of 
the  founding  of  scattered  churches.  And  in  1706  these  churches 
of  the  Presbyterian  order  and  their  ministers  organized  the  first 
Presbytery.  The  ministers  enrolled  in  that  Presbytery  were : 
Francis  Makemie  of  Virginia,  the  first  moderator ;  John  Wilson 
and  Samuel  Davis  of  Delaware ;  Nathaniel  Taylor,  John  Hampton 
and  George  McNish  of  Maryland,  and  Jedidiah  Andrews,  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  the  church  in 
which  the  Presbytery  met  and  which  kept  Mr.  Andrews  as  its  pas- 
tor for  fifty  years.  In  December  of  that  same  year  the  Presbytery 
met  at  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  Here  came  John  Boyd,  a  Scotch- 
man from  Glasgow,  who  was  examined  and  ordained,  the  first 
minister  ordained  by  an  American  Presbytery.  He  became  the 
first  pastor  of  the  "Old  Scots  Church,"  and  after  serving  it  about 
two  years  was  laid  to  rest  almost  under  its  eaves.  Nearly  two  cen- 
turies later  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey  erected  on  the  spot  a  hand- 
some monument  sacred  to  the  memory  of  its  first  ordained 
mininter. 

Some  of  you  may  already  know  that  the  year  before  Thomas 
Jefferson  penned  the  Declaration  of  Independence  the  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterians  of  Virginia  issued  the  Mecklenburg  declaration,  the 
prototype  of  Jefferson's  paper.  But  did  you  know  that  by  the 
ordination  of  John  Boyd  seventy  years  before  1776  American 
Presbyterianism  cut  loose  from  the  lands  across  the  seas,  and  that 
this  act  has  been  called  "the  Declaration  of  Independence  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  New  World"? 

Ten  years  after  its  organization  the  General  Presbytery  di- 
vided itself  into  four  Presbyteries  and  constituted  a  Synod  above 
it.  This  Synod  met  the  following  year,  that  is  in  1717.  Again  in 
1788  the  Synod  was  divided  into  four  and  constituted  the  General 
Assembly,  which  met  in  Philadelphia  the  third  Thursday  of  May, 
1789.  Be  it  noted  that  this  was  the  year  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  went  into  operation  and  the  year  that  George  Wash- 
ington became  our  first  President. 

But  the  complete  organization  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment and  of  American  Presbyterianism  are  related  to  one  another 
by  ties  closer  than  that  of  a  common  birth  year.    The  slogan  of  our 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  399 

fathers  was:  "A  church  without  a  bishop,  and  a  state  without  a 
king."  And  that  church  without  a  bishop  gave  the  model  to  the 
state  without  a  king.  And  then  poured  out  the  blood  of  its  sons 
to  establish  that  model. 

2.  Let  us  then  inquire  what  are  the  fundamental  principles  of 
this  church  organized  in  this  land  two  hundred  years  ago? 
Presbyterianism  has  been  defined  as  "ecclesiastical  republicanism 
combined  with  Calvinistic  theology."  It  derives  its  name  from 
its  system  of  government.  It  is  "a  church  government  by  repre- 
sentatives elected  by  the  people  and  all  of  equal  authority,  which 
is  exercised  by  them  only  when  organized  into  an  assembly  or 
court. ' ' 

Its  charter  may  be  found  in  these  words :  ' '  God  alone  is  lord 
of  the  conscience  and  hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  com- 
mandments of  men  which  are  in  anything  contrary  to  His  word, 
or  beside  it  in  matters  of  faith  or  worship." 

Three  principles  are  fundamental  in  Presbyterian  order:  The 
parity  of  the  ministry ;  the  government  of  the  church  by  represen- 
tatives chosen  by  the  people,  and  the  subordination  of  a  part  of 
the  church  to  a  larger  part  or  to  the  whole  secured  by  an  ascend- 
ing series  of  councils  or  courts. 

By  the  parity  of  the  ministry  we  mean  that  there  are  no  dis- 
tinct orders  or  ranks  in  the  ministry.  We  believe  that  the  Bible 
uses  the  terms  bishop,  presbyter  or  elder  interchangeably.  That 
one  minister  has  as  much  authority  as  another,  save  that  by  force 
of  character  or  ability  one  may  have  more  influence  than  another. 
Or  the  church  may  delegate  a  certain  work  to  one.  Yet  in  the 
councils  of  the  church  each  has  an  equal  right  to  be  heard  and  the 
vote  of  one  counts  as  much  as  that  of  another. 

There  are  four  main  systems  of  church  government :  The 
papal,  with  the  pope  as  the  head,  and  the  cardinals,  archbishops, 
bishops,  etc.,  under  him ;  the  prelatical,  in  which  authority  is 
vested  in  the  bishops ;  the  independent,  in  which  the  minister  is  a 
member  of  the  church,  and  the  power  of  admission,  trial  and  ex- 
clusion of  church  members  belongs  equally  to  all  members.  Un- 
der this  system  each  church  is  independent  of  every  other.  They 
may  form  their  associations  or  councils  for  mutual  help,  en 
couragement  or  advice,  but  these  associations  are  advisory  rather 
than  author ative.  The  fourth  form  of  government  is  the  Presby- 
terian. It  is  a  government  by  representatives,  called  presbyters 
or  elders.  Of  these  there  are  two  classes — elders  who  teach  and 
rule,  commonly  called  ministers,  and  elders  who  rule,  commonly 
called  ruling  elders  or  simply  elders.  These  ruling  elders  are  the 
representatives  of  the  people,  chosen  by  the  people  for  that  par- 
ticular work.  The  Word  of  God  gives  these  officers  instructions 
as  to  the  duties  they  are  to  perform,  the  character,  spirit  and  ten- 


400  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

derness  they  are  to  maintain,  and  the  ends  they  should  seek  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties.  The  Constitution  guarantees  to  every 
State  in  the  Union  a  republican,  i.  e.,  representative  form  of  gov- 
ernment. The  people  of  Missouri  could  not  well  meet  to  enact 
laws  or  to  enforce  them.  But  they  can  elect  representatives  to 
whom  they  delegate  authority.  The  church  is  composed  of  chil- 
dren of  tender  years,  of  beginners  with  little  knowledge  of  spirit- 
ual things,  of  erring  and  prejudiced  members,  as  well  as  those 
well-instructed  in  spiritual  things,  and  therefore  it  is  better  to 
delegate  authority  to  wise  and  godly  representatives  rather  than 
to  give  novices,  children  and  the  prejudiced  a  voice  in  affairs  of 
which  they  would  be  incompetent  judges.  We  believe  that  the 
Bible  recognizes  the  parity  of  the  ministry  and  government  by 
elders. 

The  third  principle  of  Presbyterianism  is  the  subordination  of 
a  part  of  the  church  to  a  larger  part  or  to  the  whole  secured  by  a 
series  of  courts  or  councils.  In  different  branches  of  the  Presby- 
terian family  of  churches  these  bodies  receive  different  names.  I 
shall  use  the  terms  found  in  our  own  church.  They  are  the  Ses- 
sion, the  Presbytery,  the  Synod  and  the  General  Assembly.  The 
Session  is  composed  of  the  pastor,  who  is  ex-officio  moderator,  and 
the  elders  of  a  particular  church.  The  Session  is  supposed  to  su- 
perintend the  spiritual  interests  of  the  church.  It  has  power  to 
receive,  dismiss,  advise  or  discipline  members;  to  determine  what 
uses  the  church  building  shall  be  put  to,  oversight  of  the  music 
of  the  church  and  the  care  of  the  benevolences  of  the  church. 
Mark  a  distinction  here.  Deacons,  or  deacons  and  trustees  have 
charge  of  the  running  expenses  of  the  church  and  deacons  have 
charge  of  the  contributions  of  the  people  for  the  poor.  But  the 
pastor  and  Session  have  charge  of  the  offerings  to  the  Boards  and 
other  benevolent  purposes.  The  Session  also  has  the  oversight  of 
the  Sunday  School,  the  young  peoples'  societies  and  all  the  aux- 
iliaries of  the  church.  The  Session  has  a  right  to  appoint  the  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  School  and  to  maintain  a  careful  su- 
pervision of  the  work  of  the  Sunday  School.  All  official  actions  of 
the  Session  are  subject  to  review  and  control  by  the  next  higher 
body,  that  is,  the  Presbytery.  And  any  member  of  the  church  who 
feels  aggrieved  by  the  action  of  the  Session  has  a  right  to  appeal 
to  the  Presbytery,  where  his  case,  removed  from  local  prejudices, 
may  have  a  fair  and  impartial  hearing.  The  Presbytery  is  com- 
posed of  the  ministers  and  one  ruling  elder  from  each  church 
within  a  given  territory.  It  has  power  to  receive,  dismiss,  ordain, 
or  discipline  ministers  and  to  exercise  watch  and  care  over  its 
churches.  Changes  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the  form  of  govern- 
ment, the  Book  of  Discipline  or  the  Directory  of  worship  are  made 
by  the  voice  of  the  constitutional  number  of  Presbyteries.     The 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  401 

Synod  is  the  next  body  of  appeal  and  review,  having  care  over  the 
Presbyteries  within  its  bounds,  whilst  the  General  Assembly  is  the 
highest  body  in  the  church.  However,  commissioners  to  the  As- 
sembly are  elected  not  by  Synods  but  by  Presbyteries. 

3.     Admirable   as   this   Presbyterian   system   is,   we   may   be 
asked  whence  its  authority  and  origin.     We  believe  it  is  strictly 
Biblical.     The  eldership  is  hoary  with  antiquty.     Moses  gathered 
around  him  a  bench  of  elders.     Joshua  delivered  an  address  to 
these  elders.    As  representatives  of  the  people  the  elders  came  to 
Samuel  to  ask  for    a    king.     The    synagogues    in    which    Christ 
preached  had  as  their  governing  body  a  bench  of  elders,  with  the 
ruler  of  the  synagogue  as  a  presiding  officer.    These  elders  had  au- 
thority to  put  an  improper  person  out  of  the  synagogue.     The 
unity  of  the  whole  was  secured  by  the  right  of  appeal  from  the 
smaller  bodies  to  the  great  tribunal  at  Jerusalem.     The  earliest 
Christian  churches  were  founded  after  the  model  of  the  synagogue. 
Hence  Paul  ordained  elders  in  the  various  churches,  and  when  a 
difficulty  arose  in  one  of  the  missionary  churches  that  could  not 
be  settled  there  it  was  carried   up  to  a  council   of    apostles    and 
elders  held  at  Jerusalem  and  that  council  authoratively  decided 
the  matter.    Gradually  Biblical  Presbyterianism  was  displaced  in 
the  Christian  Church.    Through  the  long  night  of  the  Middle  and 
Dark  Ages  amidst  the  corruptions  that  crept  into  the  church  the 
papacy  was  developed.    Here  and  there  a  persecuted  sect,  driven 
to  mountain  fastnesses,  kept  alive  the  fundamentals  of  Presby- 
terianism.    The  pre-reformers  poured  out  their  life  blood  in  fire 
and  torture.     Luther  hurled  his  anathemas  at  the  pope.     Calvin 
came  and  rediscovered  Presbyterianism.    And  Calvin  taught  it  to 
Knox.    And  the  Scotch,  the  Irish,  the  Netherlander,  the  Huguenot 
and  one  branch  of  the  Puritans  brought  it  to  America.  Here  it 
was  such  a  potent  factor  in  the  formation  and  establishment  of 
this  republic  which  now  reaches  from  sea  to  sea  that  philosophical 
historians  have  asserted  that  the  American    Revolution    was    a 
Presbyterian  measure  and  that  John  Calvin  was  the  virtual  father 
of  this  republic. 

4.  And  now  after  two  centuries  of  organized  existence  be- 
hold the  stately  steppings  of  American  Presbyterianism.  There 
are  about  a  dozen  different  branches  of  the  church  in  this  country. 
Some  of  these  came  from  Europe  and  brought  with  them  their . 
particular  doctrines  and  practices.  I  shall  not  stop  to  mention 
even  the  names  of  the  various  churches.  Suffice  it  to  speak  of 
three. 

Our  own  church  is  the  largest  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
family  in  the  United  States.  Its  corporate  name  is  "The  Presby- 
terian Church,  U.  S.  A."  It  is  popularly  known  as  the  Northern 
Presbyterian  Church.     This,  however,  is  a  misnomer,  for  it  has 


402  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

churches  and  work  in  most  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States. 
It  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the  Old  School  Church.  This,  too,  is 
a  misnomer.  In  1837  the  church  divided  into  what  was  known  as 
the  0.  S.  and  the  N.  S.  The  O.  S.  believed  in  establishing  its  own 
mission  boards  and  benevolent  organizations.  The  N.  S.  wanted 
to  continue  co-operating  with  Congregational  churches  along 
these  lines.  The  0.  S.  also  claimed  that  the  N.  S.  was  not  alto- 
gether sound  doctrinally.  In  1870  these  churches  united  on  the 
standards  pure  and  simple,  and  thus  the  terms  O.  S.  and  N.  S. 
passed  away.  This  united  church  is  probably  the  foremost  church 
in  the  United  States  in  contributions  to  the  great  work  of  foreign 
missions.  It  certainly  leads  all  others  in  sustaining  great  inter- 
denominational movements  and  agencies,  such  as  the  American 
Bible  Society,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  etc.  Mr.  Moody  said  if  he  wanted 
to  raise  $100,000  for  benevolent  purposes  he  would  expect  to  get 
$60,000  of  it  from  Presbyterians.  This  church  was  the  first  church 
in  this  country  to  have  a  paid  secretary  to  devote  his  whole  time 
to  the  great  temperance  reform,  and  the  first  to  establish  a  special 
department  whose  mission  it  is  to  reach  out  a  helping  hand  to  the 
labor  movement  of  our  country,  and  today  it  stands  easily  at  the 
head  of  the  evangelistic  movements  of  our  country. 

Nearest  to  our  church  I  had  always  supposed  until  within 
the  last  few  years  is  what  is  known  as  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  term  Southern,  like  the  term  Northern,  is  a  nick- 
name. The  corporate  name  of  this  church  is  "The  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States."  (Ours  U.  S.  A.  Theirs  U.  S.) 
When  the  Confederate  States  went  out  of  the  Union  this  branch 
went  out  of  the  mother  church.  The  Southern  Church  has  jus- 
tified its  separate  existence  on  these  grounds :  They  think  the 
Northern  Church  is  more  given  to  political  deliverances,  that  they 
are  a  little  stricter  than  we  doctrinally  and  that  our  missionary 
and  benevolent  boards  are  given  more  authority  than  their  com- 
mittees. A  large  and  growing  part  of  the  Southern  Church  thinks 
that  these  differences  are  more  imaginary  than  real,  and  there  are 
encouraging  notes  that  point  to  the  belief  that  in  a  few  years  the 
two  churches  will  be  one. 

The  last  church  I  shall  mention  is  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  It  sprang  from  the  mother  church  in  1810.  It  took 
its  name  from  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  which  was  organized 
as  a  new  and  independent  body  by  three  Presbyterian  ministers — - 
Finis  Ewing,  Samuel  King  and  Samuel  MeAdow.  The  Presbytery 
was  so  named  because  it  was  situated  in  that  region  known  as  the 
Cumberland  Country,  a  region  that  embraced  parts  of  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee.  Dissensions  had  arisen  in  the  church  along  three 
lines — doctrinal,  educational,  evangelistic.  The  Cumberland 
brethren  believed  that  the  Confession  of  Faith  fairly  interpreted 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  403 

taught  fatalism  and  that  some  infants  dying  in  infancy  were  lost. 
Our  church  has  steadily  maintained  that  these  inferences  of  the 
Cumberland  brethren  were  unwarranted.  The-  Cumberland 
brethren  held  that  the  standard  of  education  for  the  ministry 
should  be  more  flexible,  that  while  there  was  such  a  demand  for 
ministers  young  men  should  be  licensed  and  ordained  without 
waiting  for  them  to  get  an  academic  education.  The  first  decade 
of  the  nineteenth  century  witnessed  a  great  revival  wave  spread- 
ing over  the  southern  part  of  the  country.  This  revival  was  ac- 
companied with  bodily  exercise  known  as  "the  jerks,"  and  differ- 
ences of  opinion  arose  as  to  the  attitude  of  the  church  to  these 
movements.  And  differences  along  these  three  lines  led  to  the 
organization  of  the  C.  P.  Church.  For  ninety-six  years  the  two 
churches  have  been  apart.  As  to  which  was  right  in  the  begin- 
ning and  which  was  wrong,  or  as  to  whether  both  sides  might  not 
have  been  more  tolerant  and  thus  have  avoided  a  division,  it  is  not 
for  us  to  say.  We  know  that  the  spirit  of  toleration  is  broader 
today  than  it  was  a  century  ago.  The  revival  conditions  that  ex- 
isted in  that  day  are  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  Cumberland  Church 
started  out  by  taking  exceptions  to  certain  clauses  in  the  West- 
minster confession,  then  eliminated  those  clauses  and  subsequently 
in  1883,  I  believe  it  was,  wrote  a  new  confession.  It  is  fair  to 
state,  too,  that  as  the  country  grows  older  that  church  is  devoting 
more  attention  to  an  educated  ministry.  In  1903  our  own  church 
revised  the  Confession  of  Faith.  Some  of  us  think  that  instead  of 
changing  our  doctrines  we  simply  restated  them  in  a  way  that 
removed  from  them  the  mistaken  inferences  that  others  had 
drawn,  and  that  the  church  never  taught  doctrines  of  which  it 
was  accused.  Be  that  as  it  may  the  confession  as  revised  seemed 
to  be  more  satisfactory  to  outsiders  than  the  old  confession,  and 
■negotiations  for  union  with  our  church  started  in  one  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyteries,  gained  momentum  rapidly  and  the  same 
year,  that  is  1903,  was  transmitted  from  the  C.  P.  General  As- 
sembly to  ours.  Committees  were  appointed  by  the  two  assemblies 
to  arrange  a  plan  of  union.  The  following  basis  of  union  was  sent 
down  by  the  Assemblies  to  their  Presbyteries:  "Do  you  approve 
of  the  reunion  and  union  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United 
States  and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  on  the  following 
basis:  The  union  shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America  as  revised  in  1903,  and  on  its  other  doctrinal 
and  ecclesiastical  standards ;  and  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments  shall  be  acknowledged  as  the  inspired  Word  of 
God,  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice."  In  voting  on 
this  proposition  the  Presbytery  is  the  unit.  Each  Presbytery  was 
entitled  to  one  vote.    The  Presbytery  might  be  large  or  small.    Its 


404  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

majority  for  or  against  union  might  be  large  or  small,  but  as  the 
majority  voted  so  was  counted  the  single  vote  of  a  given  Presby- 
tery. More  than  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  in  our  church  and 
more  than  one-half  of  the  Presbyteries  in  the  C.  P.  Church  voted 
in  favor  of  the  union.  These  votes  were  tabulated  at  the  General 
Assemblies  of  the  two  churches  that  met  in  May,  1905.  The  As- 
semblies,  therefore,  declared  that  the  union  had  been  carried  by 
the  constitutional  majorities  and  empowered  their  committees  to 
act  as  a  joint  committee  to  arrange  for  the  coming  together  of  the 
two  churches.  I  might  say  here  that  from  the  beginning  a  small 
minority  in  our  church  and  a  larger  majority  in  the  C.  P.  Church 
have  been  unfavorable  to  the  union.  Now  that  the  vote  for  union 
has  carried  we  do  not  hear  much  opposition  in  our  branch  of  the 
church.  But  the  opposition  in  the  C.  P.  Church  is  more  persis- 
tent and  aggressive,  even  threatening  to  take  the  matter  into  the 
courts.  Our  General  Assembly  meets  the  17th  of  May  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  and  the  Cumberland  General  Assembly  meets  in 
Decatur,  111.  The  report  of  the  joint  committee  will  be  made  to 
each  Assembly  and  if  adopted  by  each  Assembly,  then  the  Cumber- 
land will  adjourn  to  meet  no  more.  Next  year  all  existing 
Presbyteries — our  own  and  the  C.  P. — will  elect  commissioners  to 
the  united  Assembly,  the  two  retiring  moderators  will  act  con- 
jointly in  opening  the  new  Assembly,  and  thus  the  union  will  be 
consummated.  We  do  not  know  just  yet  how  or  when  Synods 
and  Presbyteries  will  be  brought  together.  In  many  places,  like 
Ash  Grove,  Greenfield  and  Mount  Vernon,  the  two  churches  are 
already  worshipping  together  with  one  pastor,  and  beyond  doubt 
as  speedily  as  advisable  will  become  one  organization.  In  Spring- 
field Calvary  and  the  First  C.  P.  Church  are  of  such  a  size,  and 
this  church  and  the  Springfield  Avenue  Church  are  so  far  apart, 
that  I  suppose  the  four  churches  will  remain  distinct  for  some 
time  at  least.  However,  we  look  forward  to  the  time  when  the 
four  will  belong  to  one  Presbytery.  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state 
that  Ozark  Presbytery  voted  unanimously  for  the  union.  We  hail 
the  day  as  an  omen  of  better  things  in  the  Kingdom  of  God.  I 
have  referred  to  that  monument  erected  by  the  Synod  of  New  Jer- 
sey over  the  grave  of  John  Boyd.  That  monument  has  four  faces. 
Above  them  are  four  gables.  On  the  north  gable  is  the  seal  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  showing  an  open  Bible  and  a  ser- 
pent on  a  cross,  symbolizing  the  Saviour.  On  the  west  is  the  seal 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Monmouth  County,  the  oldest 
known  Presbyterian  Church  seal  in  this  country.  On  the  east  is 
the  seal  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Society,  and  on  the  South  is  the  seal 
of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church,  showing  the  mystic  letters 
of  the  Saviour's  name,  "I.  H.  S.,"  surrounded  by  a  burst  of  sun 
rays  over  an  anchor,  standing  for  the  blessed  Gospel.    Under  the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  405 

north  gable  is  the  tablet  of  dedication.  Under  the  west,  written 
in  Latin,  is  the  epitaph  of  John  Boyd,  and  under  the  east  is  a 
translation  into  English  of  the  Latin  epitaph.  The  space  under 
the  south  gable  is  left  bare.  Perchance  at  no  distant  day  the 
sculptor  will  be  sent  to  that  monument  to  chisel  under  the  seal  oi 
the  Southern  Church  the  glad  tidings  that  the  Northern  and  the 
Southern,  as  well  as  the  Northern  and  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Churches,  are  one,  marching  with  stately  tread  to  "the 
General  Assembly  and  church  of  the  First  Born  on  High." 


PRESBYTERIAN   REUNIONS   OF  1869-70,   AND   1906-7 

An  Address  Delivered  by  Rev.  E.  E.  Stringfield  at  the  Or- 
ganization of  the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  in  the  Ebenezer  Church, 
at  Greenfield,  Missouri,  June  18th,  1907.  Published  by  order  of 
Presbytery : 

I  have  been  asked  why  the  Presbytery  convenes  for  organiza- 
tion at  Greenfield  rather  than  Springfield.  I  replied  for  historic 
associations.  Thirty  seven  years  ago  the  29th  of  the  coming  Sep- 
tember, the  Presbytery  of  Ozark,  U.  S.  A.,  was  organized  in  this 
city,  and  the  list  of  ministers  given  in  the  enabling  act  is  headed 
by  Revs.  John  McJParland  and  "W.  R.  Fulton,  who  rise  up  in  frag- 
rant memory  at  the  very  mention  of  Ebenezer.  Of  the  eleven 
ministers  named  in  the  enabling  act  the  majority  have  passed  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  church  of  the 
First  Born,  and  only  Leonidas  J.  Matthews  is  enrolled  today  in 
the  New  Presbytery  of  Ozark.  Whilst  of  the  sixteen  churches 
some  have  fallen  asleep  and  some  are  enrolled  today  in  the  New 
Presbytery  of  Carthage,  we  still  retain,  Bolivar,  Calvary,  Conway 
(then' called  Panther  Creek),  Ebenezer,  Mt.  Zion,  Bellvue  (then 
called  Springfield),  and  probably  Peace  Valley  survises  in  West 
Plains. 

Like  the  Presbytery  we  have  organized  today,  that  Presby- 
tery had  its  birth  in  the  throes  of  the  readjustments  incident  to  a 
happy  Presbyterian  reunion.  Protestantism  has  oft  times  been 
reproached  for  its  divisive  tendencies.  And  of  the  main  Prot- 
estant bodies  surely  the  Presbyterian  church  will  not  cast  the 
first  stone  at  any  sinner  in  this  respect.  Indeed,  we  have  been 
called  the  "split  Ps."  and  Dr.  Landrith  jocularly  remarked  at 
the  Assembly  that  the  Cumberland  brethren  had  demonstrated 
their  Presbyterianism  by  their  ability  to  disagree. 

But  let  our  tongues  cleave  to  the  roof  of  our  mouths  rather 
than  that  they  should  condemn  overmuch  the  fathers  for  the  rise 
of  denominations.     The  reunion  committee  of  a  generation  ago 


4o6  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

said  of  the  reformation:  "That  was  a  time  for  the  assertion  of 
truth,  rather  than  the  expression  of  love.  It  was  not  so  much  a 
season  for  extending  Christianity  as  for  purifying  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  future  aggression."  It  may  be  true  that  the  segrega- 
tion was  carried  too  far  and  long.  But  it  is  enough  for  us  to 
know  that  whether  these  separations  were  wise  or  otherwise  (1) 
our  fathers  tried  to  act  as  men  of  God.  (2)  Their  labors  in  their 
separate  spheres  were  blessed  by  the  Spirit's  presence  and  power. 
(3)  And  the  time  has  now  come  for  the  expression  of  love  as  well 
as  for  the  assertion  of  truth.  It  is  indeed  gratifying  to  know 
that  the  Presbyterian  church  is  leading  the  great  denominations 
in  these  family  reunions.  And  from  present  indications  we  do 
not  propose  to  wait  thirty-seven  years  until  the  next  one.  This  is 
the  age  of  electricity  and  wireless  telegraphy,  and  we  propose  to 
move  a  little  faster,  and  when  we  are  through  wdth  these  family 
reunions  we  may  be  ready  for  denominational  reunions.  When 
that  time  comes  I  fancy  that  the  ultimate  expression  of  Christian- 
ity will  embra.ce  the  fundamentals  of  the  Presbyterian  govern- 
ment, so  consonant  with  the  government  of  our  native  land,  and 
the  Pauline,  Augustinian  or  Calvinistic  theology,  the  reassertion 
of  which  produced  the  Protestant  Reformation,  as  well  as  the 
efforts  of  pre-reformers  to  turn  the  church  from  mendacity  and 
superstition — the  theology  whose  preaching  has  given  birth  to 
most  of  the  sweeping  nation  wide  revivals  adown  the  track  of 
time.  Historic  Calvinism  is  the  theology  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  and  of  evangelism  as  well. 

It  is  a  conceit  of  mine  that  in  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls 
— the  times  for  the  assertion  of  truth,  our  fathers  planted  a  church 
remarkable  more  for  strength  and  stability  than  for  adaptability, 
and  that  in  these  latter  days  worthy  sons  of  worthy  sires  are  learn- 
ing adaptability  while  they  conserve  stability.  With  our  united 
church  as  the  organized  leader  in  church  union;  in  the  formation 
of  a  national  movement  to  call  forth  the  latent  energies  of  that 
sleeping  Sampson — the  men  of  the  church;  in  that  forward  move- 
ment whose  shibboleth  is  the  evangelization  of  the  world  in  this 
generation  through  the  aid  expressed  in  the  watchword  "men 
and  missions;"  in  the  rising  tide  of  evangelism,  and  in  bridging 
the  chasm  said  to  exist  between  the  church  and  the  laboring  men. 
I  say  with  these  vantage  grounds  our  church  ought  to  go  forward 
by  leaps  and  bounds. 

It  is  interesting  and  profitable  to  draw  a  few  parallels  and  a 
few  contrasts  between  the  reunion  of  1870  and  that  of  the  present 
time.  The  high  contracting  parties  then  were  known  as  the  Old 
School  and  New  School.  These,  I  infer,  were  popular  rather  than 
corporate   designations,   for  in    the   midst    of   the   negotiations   it 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  407 

was  recommended  that  the  separate  assemblies  be  designated  by 
the  city  in  which  the  sessions  were  held  rather  than  by  the  desig- 
nation Old  School  or  New  School. 

The  motives  that  led  to  the  reunion  then  remind  us  very 
forcibly  of  those  operating  to  bring  about  the  present  reunion. 
That  as  this  was  a  time  of  awakening  activity  among-  laymen. 
During  the  war  the  Christian  Commission  and  the  Sanitary  Com- 
mission called  into  play  the  philanthropic  and  evangelistic  efforts 
of  both  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Side  by  side  their 
members  worked,  and  "each  one  had  to  inquire  of  the  other  be- 
fore he  could  tell  his  denominational  connection."  These  activi- 
ties during  the  war  prepared  the  men  of  the  church  for  activities 
in  her  behalf. 

In  1868  the  committee  on  reunion  declared  "The  third  of  a 
century  the  life  of  a  whole  generation  has  indeed  wrought  won- 
drous changes,  of  the  greatest  promise  for  the  future.  Another 
order  of  things  exists.  Old  causes  of  irritation  are  removed.  A 
new  generation  in  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  church 
has  arisen,  with  little  sympathy  for  those  controversies  that  re- 
sulted in  division.  A  new  evangelic  spirit  is  abroad,  like  the 
breath  of  spring,  inviting  to  a  new  style  of  action." 

Aggressive  mission  work,  both  Home  and  Foreign,  was  one 
of  the  objects  sought  by  that  reunion.  The  reunion  movement 
really  began  in  the  midst  of  the  war,  although  formal  steps  were 
not  taken  until  1866,  when  committees  on  reunion  were  appointed. 
As  an  expression  of  renewed  interest  in  foreign  missions  the  Old 
School  Assembly  of  1863  elected  Dr.  Morrison  of  India,  as  Moder- 
ator. And  the  two  assemblies  of  1869,  at  Pittsburg,  in  meeting 
for  a  second  time  in  the  year,  held  joint  and  enthusiastic  meet- 
ings in  the  interests  of  home  and  foreign  missions. 

In  1868  the  Joint  Committee  said :  ' '  The  motives  which  impel 
to  union  are  higher  and  greater  than  any  which  pertain  to  denom- 
inational advantage.  They  relate  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole 
country  and  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  in  all  the  earth."  Then 
they  speak  of  the  facts  that  in  the  thirty  years  of  the  separation 
the  number  of  states  in  the  union  had  nearly  doubled,  that  this 
vast  domain  must  be  supplied  Avith  means  of  education  and  the 
institutions  of  religion  that  six  millions  of  immigrants  had  landed 
on  our  shores,  that  four  millions  of  slaves  recently  enfranchised 
demand  Christian  education.  They  tell  us  that  anti  Christian 
forces,  Romanism,  Ecclesiasticism,  Rationalism,  Infidelity.  Ma- 
terialism and  Paganism  were  struggling  for  the  ascendancy.  Then 
they  add:  "Christian  forces  should  be  combined  and  deployed, 
according  to  the  new  movements  of  their  adversaries.  It  is  no 
time  for  small  and  weak  detachments  which  may  easily  be  defeat- 


408  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

i'il  in  detail.  The  time  1ms  come  when  minor  motives  should  be 
merged  in  the  magnanimous  purpose,  inspired  by  both  patriotism 
and  religion,  to  Christianize  the  whole  country.  Nor  is  the  pro- 
posal union  desirable  on  one  own  account  only.  It  is  inevitable 
thai  its  effects  should  be  fell  tb.rougb.oui  the  whole  of  Christen- 
dom." The  fathers  hailed  the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New 
Schools  as  an  especial  harbinger  of  the  reunited  Presbyterianism. 
"A  very  prominent  statesman  said  after  the  Separation  of  the 
Northern  and  the  Southern  Presbyterian  church  at  Philadelphia 
in  1861  that  he  had  little  hope  of  the  country  now  that  the  Pres- 
byterian church  was  divided."  Large  minded  men  outside. the 
Presbyterian  fold  believed  that  the  reunion  of  the  Old  School  and 
New  School  churches  would  be  a  "Teat  matter  for  the  unity  of 
the  whole  country.  And  then  in  the  midst  of  the  negotiations  it 
was  found  that  acquaintance  begat  confidence  and  thai  after  all 
church  unity  was  a  matter  of  personal  confidence. 

And  are  not  the  motives  I  have  mentioned  parallelled  by  the 
motives  of  this  recent  Reunion. 

To  the  awakened  lay  activity  of  a  generation  ago  the  present 
responds  with  an  Indianapolis  convention. 

To  aggressive  Foreign  and  Home  interests  we  match  Corbett 
with  Morrison  and  present  Landreth's  moderatorial  sermon  in  re- 
sponse to  their  ripening  field  awaiting  the  sickle. 

Do  they  tell  us  of  anti  Christian  forces  struggling  for  the 
ascendency?  We  too  have  felt  that  when  the  very  foundations  of 
faith  are  attacked  the  time  has  come  when  minor  causes  of  separa- 
tion should  be  merged  in  the  magnanimous  purpose  to  christian- 
ize the  whole  world. 

Do  they  speak  of  a  rising  tide  of  evangelistic  spirit.  We  call 
upon  them  to  look  down  over  the  battlements  of  the  celestial  city 
and  see  our  evangelistic  committee,  our  simultaneous  campaigns, 
our  services  on  the  streets,  in  Shops,  Theatres,  Saloons. 

And  on  investigation  did  they  find  that  there  was  more  har- 
mony of  belief  than  they  had  ever  guessed  What  did  the  re- 
vision of  our  confession  reveal  but  that  fact  ? 

II.  Again,  Like  the  recent  Reunion  the  Reunion  of  the  Old 
and  the  New  School  Churches,  met  with  some  strenuous  opposi- 
tion. But  before  that  reunion  was  consummated  at  least  all  out- 
ward opposition  had  melted  away.  Our  fathers  were  longer  ne- 
gotiating than  we  have  been.  As  some  have  thought  that  this 
present  reunion  was  precipitated  too  hurridly;  the  inquiry  arises 
were  they  wiser  than  we  in  tarrying  longer?  I  reply  not  neces- 
sarily. It  took  them  longer  to  formulate*  the  basis  of  union  on 
which  they  finally  united  than  it  did  us.  We  had  their  example 
to  follow  and  with  little  difficultv  found  a   basis  of  union  that 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  409 

voices  an  agreement  and  a  confidence  alike  honoring  to  both 
parties. 

But  we  had  some  difficulties  they  did  not  encounter. 

In  the  first  place  they  had  the  same  name.  Each  was  official- 
ly known  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  each  had  simply  to 
drop  the  nick  name  the  one  Old  School,  the  other  New  School, 
In  the  next  place  they  had  absolutely  the  same  standards. 
Neither  had  revised  the  confession  of  faith:  In  the  third  place 
their  traditions  as  to  qualifications  for  the  ministry  were  the 
same ;  and  finally  they  came  nearer  occupying  the  same  territory 
than  did  the  Presbyterian  Church  U.  S.  A.  and  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  hence  sectional  questions  were  eliminated. 
And  this  fact  that  they  were  not  in  a  large  measure  sectionally 
divided  furnished  opportunities  for  becoming  acquainted  that 
were  not  found  on  so  large  a  scale  in  recent  times.  As  a  side 
issue  of  the  Old  School  assembly  of  1864  an  informal  convention 
was  held  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  reunion.  It  was  largely 
attended  by  prominent  ministers  and  laymen  from  both  branches 
of  the  church.  "Another  of  the  most  influential  meetings  in 
favor  of  reunion  was  the  Presbyterian  national  union  convention 
which  assembled  in  Philadelphia  in  1867  with  the  avowed  object 
of  fostering  the  union  of  all  branches  of  Presbyterianism.  Not 
a  few  had  come  to  the  convention  with  the  proclaimed  purpose  of 
opposing  all  union.  It  is,  however,  a  pretty  difficult  task  for 
pious  men  to  meet  Christian  brethren  and  pray  for  disunion." 
Hence  many  who  went  to  the  convention  avowed  antagonists  to 
reunion  went  away  working  and  praying  for  it.  And  then  the 
two  assemblies  met  at  the  same  time  in  St.  Louis  in  1866  and  New 
York  City  in  1869.  And  so  sweet  was  their  fellowship  that  they 
could  not  wait  until  the  next  year  but  adjourned  each  to  meet 
in  Pittsburg  in  the  fall  at  which  time  they  were  to  receive 
answers  to  the  overtures  on  reunion  sent  down  to  the  Presby- 
teries. 

Some  months  ago,  while  meditating  on  some  acrimonious 
things  that  were  said  about  reunion,  I  turned  to  the  history  of 
the  former  reunion.  Imagine  my  surprise  to  find  affixed  to  a  pro- 
test made  to  the  Old  School  Assembly  of  1868,  the  names  of  some 
of  the  men  in  our  church  that  I  had  venerated  the  most.  Why  I 
regarded  them  in  a  special  sense  as  my  spiritual  advisers.  I  read 
that  protest  carefully.  It  placed  some  of  the  brethren  of  the 
other  side  not  only  outside  the  pale  of  Presbyterianism,  but  out- 
side of  evangelical  Christianity.  It  cited  a  category  of  errors 
as  long  as  the  moral  law,  and  as  formidable  as  popery  to  a  Scot 
of  the  olden  times.  But  the  reunion  sentiment  grew.  It  seems 
a  little  strange  that  in  this  former  reunion  the  opposition  existed 
largely  in  the  larger  branch  of  the  church,  and  that  leading  lay- 


410  Presbyteriamsm  in  the  Ozarks 

men  led  the  clergy  in  the  demands  for  reunion.  Incidentally,  he 
it  said  to  the  credit  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Southwest  Missouri, 
and  of  Osage  that  occupied  the  territory  of  Southwest  Missouri, 
they  were  apparently  like  the  young  ladies  of  a  female  seminary, 
"In  favor  of  union  to  a  man,"  and  they  never  lost  an  opportun- 
ity to  express  their  desires. 

At  last  the  hour  had  struck.  In  1868  overtur&s  were  sent 
down  to  the  Presbyteries.  The  basis  was  cumbrous  and  objec- 
tionable in  some  features.  The  answers  of  the  Presbyteries  indi- 
cated a  desire  for  union,  but  a  dissatisfaction  with  the  basis  The 
assemblies  of  1869,  to  which  these  answers  were  sent,  formu- 
lated a  simpler  basis,  more  expressive  of  mutual  confidence.  The 
report  was  adopted  in  the  Old  School  Assembly  by  a  vote  of  285 
to  9,  and  by  the  New  School  Assembly  unanimously.  The  Pres- 
byteries were  required  to  give  a  categorical  answer  yes  or  no. 
And  so  confident  were  the  Assemblies  that  when  the  question  was 
popped  to  the  church  at  large  she  would  say  yes  that  they  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  November,  and  she  said  yes.  The  Old  School 
Assembly  had  144  Presbyteries.  Some  of  them  could  not  meet  in 
time  to  vote  on  the  question,  but  126  voted  yes  and  3  voted  no. 
The  New  School  Assembly  had  113  Presbyteries,  113  answered 
yes,  110  were  unanimous  in  that  answer  and  3  Presbyteries  had 
one  man  each  who  answered  no.  That  the  fathers  were  more 
successful  than  the  sons  in  affecting  a  union  without  a  split  I 
think  may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  they  bore  the  same  name, 
had  the  same  standards,  occupied  more  nearly  the  same  territory, 
were  better  able  to  hold  joint  sessions  and  conventions,  and  that 
that  the  opposition  came  from  the  larger,  rather  than  from  the 
smaller  body,  and  from  men  who  could  utter  their  protest  to  sat- 
isfy the  conscience  and  subsequently  abide  by  the  wisdom  of  the 
constitutional  majority. 

(III.  "It  is  reported  among  the  heathen  and  Gashmu  saith 
it"- — that  some  people  think  organic  union  contrary  to  the  con- 
stitution of  the  church.  For  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  take 
that  position  would  be  to  deny  her  birth  and  lineage.  She  is  the 
offspring  of  the  union  of  1869-70  and  her  mother  was  the  offspring 
of  the  union  of  1768.  For  a  Cumberland  present  or  former  to 
take  such  a  position  is  to  show  that  he  has  forgotten  the  history 
of  his  church.  The  history  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  presents  an  unbroken  succession  of  efforts  at  organic 
union  with  other  religious  bodies.  Certainly  the  fathers  of  the 
church  did  not  consider  such  a  consummation  unconstitutional. 
In  1810  the  year  of  her  birth — the  palmy  days  of  Ewing  and  King 
and  McAdow  the  original  Cumberland  Presbytery  issued  a  circu- 
lar letter  in  which  occur  these  words:  "We  have  in  view  as  a 
Presbytery  to  make  another  proposition  to  the  Synod  of  Ken- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  411 

tucky  or  some  other  Synod,  for  a  reunion.  If  we  can  obtain  it 
without  violating  our  natural  and  scriptural  rights,  it  will  meet 
the  most  ardent  wish  of  our  hearts." 

In  1811  The  Cumberland  Presbytery  appointed  a  committee 
to  try  to  effect  organic  union  with  the  Presbyterian  Presbyteries 
of  West  Tennessee  and  Muhlenberg. 

Next  year  it  unanimously  resolved  "That  this  Presbytery 
has  always  been  and  expects  always  to  be  ready  and  willing  for 
union  with  the  General  Presbyterian  Church,  on  gospel  prin- 
ciples." In  1827  the  Cumberland  Synod  appointed  a  committee 
to  carry  on  a  friendly  correspondence  with  the  Synod  of  Tennes- 
see. And  in  1860  the  Cumberland  General  Assembly  declared: 
"That  while  we  are  ready  to  reciprocate  fraternal  feelings  alike 
with  all  Christians,  yet  seeing  that  the  great  Presbyterian  family 
embrace  alike  the  same  church  government,  and  that  in  their  oral 
addresses  they  are  doctrinally  conveying  to  the  same  stand  point, 
the  sovereignty  of  God  and  the  agency  of  man  both  alike  exorcis- 
ed and  secured  in  the  salvation  of  the  sinner,  we  cherish  the  font' 
hope  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  entire  family  shall 
be  represented  in  one  General  Assembly." 

In  1867  the  Cumberland  General  Assembly  entered  into  ne- 
gotiations with  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1873  similar  negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  U.  S.  A.  commonly  called  Northern  Presbyte- 
ian.  The  following  year  the  Cumberland  General  Assembly  met 
in  our  own  city  of  Springfield.  From  the  report  of  the  committte 
it  would  appear  that  the  Presbyterian  committee  did  not  accept 
the  basis  of  organic  union  proposed  by  the  Cumberland  commit- 
tee nor  did  it  propose  any  other  basis  in  lieu  thereof.  Hence  the 
Cumberland  Assembly  said :  ' '  This  General  Assembly,  therefore 
without  expressing  any  opinion  upon  the  plan  of  union  proposed, 
deems  it  inexpedient,  at  present,  to  continue  said  conference,  and 
said  committee  is  discharged."  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  all 
through  the  history  of  the  Cumberland  Church  organic  union 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church  has  been  considered  probable  and 
desirable.  But  difficulties  ever  arose  over  a  basis  that  would  be 
mutually  agreeable.  The  history  of  these  efforts  shows  that  forty 
years  ago  (1)  The  Cumberland  Church  was  ready  to  adopt  the 
more  general  name  Presbyterian.  (2)  To  recognize  the  standard 
of  ministerial  education  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  (3)  To 
adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  with  a  proviso  that  it  be  modified  substantially  in  accord- 
ance with  a  paper  that  was  to  accompany  the  articles  of  agree- 
ment. This  paper  proposed  changes  in  the  III,  V,  VIII,  X  and 
XVII  chapters. 

These  concessions  were  made  in   the  negotiations  with  the 


412  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

Southern  Church.      The  wonder  to  me  is  that  the  Cumberland 

Church  and  the  Southern  Church  did  not  unite  forty  years  ago. 
I  can  only  surmise  that  in  the  Province  of  God  that  union  was 
averted  in  the  interests  of  wider  Presbyterian  unions  only  begin- 
ning to  be  realized.  Nor  does  it  seem  to  me  in  the  study  of  these 
unsuccessful  attempts  at  organic  union  the  churches  negotiating 
were  quite  ready  to  put  explicit  confidence  in  the  present  faith 
and  purposes  of  each  other  without  bringing  up  some  reminder 
of  the  things  that  separated  in  the  past. 

It  is  self  evident  that  the  nearer  we  get  to  Christ  the  nearer 
we  get  to  each  other  and  our  fathers  from  time  to  time  recognized 
a  growing  similarity  in  belief  and  a  growing  tendency  to  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  the  things  in  which  we  agree  are  more  import- 
ant than  the  things  which  we  disagree. 

In  1903  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  revised  its  con- 
fession of  Faith.  This  revision  was  not  occasioned  by  any  pres- 
sure from  without,  but  was  purely  a  movement  within  the  church 
itself.  The  purposes  of  the  revision  were  two,  (1)  to  disavow 
inferences  drawn  from  certain  statements  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  (2)  to  set  forth  more  clearly  some  aspects  of  revealed 
truth  which  appeared  to  call  for  a  more  explicit  statement,  viz: 
"The  love  of  God  and  missions,  and  the  person  and  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit."  This  revision  did  not  impair  the  system  of  doctrine 
taught  in  the  Confession  and  the  Holy  Scriptures,  but  was  de- 
signed to  remove  misapprehension  as  to  the  proper  interpretation 
thereof. 

The  proposed  revision  was  widely  circulated  and  studied 
and  when  it  became  evident  that  it  would  be  adopted  almost 
unanimously  by  the  Presbyterian  Church  some  Presbytery  in  the 
Cumberland  church  overtured  its  General  Assembly  to  re-enter 
negotiations  for  reunion.  The  psychological  hour  had  struck. 
Presbytery  after  Presbytery  in  both  branches  of  the  church  en- 
dorsed the  overture.  The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  U.  S.  A.,  of  1903  declared  that  the  revision  had  carried. 
But  just  before  that  declaration  was  made,  yet  doubtless  because 
it  was  a  foregone  conclusion  that  it  would  be  made,  a  telegram 
was  received  from  the  Cumberland  Assembly  stating  that  a  com- 
mittee of  nine  had  been  appointed  on  Presbyterian  fraternity  and 
union  to  confer  with  such  like  committee  as  may  be  appointed  by 
other  Presbyterian  bodies,  in  regard  to  the  desirability  and  prac- 
ticability of  closer  affiliation  and  organic  union  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  family  of  the  United  States.  After  the  re- 
ceiptof  this  telegram,  May  27,  1903,  the  Presbyterian  Assembly 
appointed  a  similar  committee.  The  joint  committees  adopted  a 
report  on    union  and    submitted  the  same  to    their    respective 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  413 

assemblies  which  met  in  1904.  This  report  contained  (I)  plan 
of  reunion  and  union  of  the  two  churches.  (II)  Concurrent  de- 
clarations to  be  adopted  by  the  respective  General  Assemblies 
meeting  in  1904.     (Ill)  Recommendations. 

The  concurrent  declarations  affirm  that:' 'In  adopting  the 
Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  as  revised  in  1903,  as  a  basis  of  union,  it  is 
mutually  recognized  that  such  agreement  now  exists  between  the 
systems  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  confessions  of  faith  of  the 
two  churches  as  to  warrant  this  union — a  union  honoring  alike  to 
both." 

The  Cumberland  General  Assembly  adopted  the  report  of  the 
joint  committee  by  a  two-thirds  vote  and  the  Presbyterian  As- 
sembly by  a  still  larger  vote.  Overtures  were  then  sent  to  the 
Presbyteries  of  the  two  churches  that  they  might  vote  as  to 
whether  they  approved  or  disapproved  the  union.  The  answer 
of  the  Presbyteries  were  received  by  the  Assemblies  of  1905.  In 
the  Presbyterian  church  195  Presbyteries  voted  yes.  One  voted 
yes  conditionally,  five  failed  to  vote  and  39  voted  no.  In  the 
Cumberland  church  60  voted  in  the  affirmative,  51  in  the  nega- 
tive, 2  did  not  vote  and  two  votes  were  so  uncertain  that  they 
were  cast  out. 

Thereupon  the  enlarged  joint  committee  was  instructed  to 
take  such  steps  as  were  necessary  to  perfect  the  union.  The 
report  of  the  joint  committee  was  adopted  by  the  assemblies  of 
1906  and  the  union  thereby  declared  effective  and  the  first  as- 
sembly of  the  reunited  church  was  the  assembly  of  1907. 

It  will  be  noted  that  in  effecting  this  union,  the  two  General 
Assemblies  declared  that  a  substantial  agreement  as  to  the  sys- 
tems of  doctrine  in  the  two  confessions  already  existed.  In  1906 
the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  unanimously  declared  that 
"the  change  of  doctrinal  standards  resulting  from  the  union 
involve  no  change  of  belief  on  the  part  of  any  who  were  minis- 
ters, ruling  elders  or  deacons  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church."  And  this  is  true  because  they  are  required  to  assent 
only  to  the  system  of  doctrine  and  not  to  every  particular  state- 
ment of  the  Westminster  Confession,  and  because  the  "two  as- 
semblies of  1904  did  declare  that  there  was  then  a  sufficient 
agreement  between  the  systems  of  doctrines  contained  in  the  Con- 
fessions of  the  two  churches  to  warrant  the  union." 

Forty  years  ago  the  Cumberland  Committee  on  union  de- 
clared its  substantial  accord  with  that  system  and  only  asked  that 
revision  be  made  that  would  clear  the  Confession  of  what  they 
regarded  as  fatalistic  utterances.  The  revision  of  1903  removed 
these  apprehensions  and  therefore  rendered  the  Confession  ac- 
ceptable to  the  constitutional  majority  of  the  Cumberland  church. 


414  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

The  Presbyterian  church  has  never  by  its  voice  or  its  works  ad- 
milted  that  any  parts  of  the  Confession  were  fatalistic,  but  de- 
clared that  the  revision  of  1903  was  made  in  part  to  remove  such 
apprehensions  on  the  part  of  others  and  that  since  that  revision 
such  interpretation  was  no  longer  allowable. 

IV.  The  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School  churches  was 
more  spectacular  than  that  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Churches.  In  May,  1869,  the  Assemblies  met  side  by 
side  in  the  city  of  New  York.  When  the  joint  committees  gave 
their  report  the  Old  School  Assembly  adopted  it  ny  the  over- 
whelming vote  of  285  to  9,  and  the  New  School  Assembly  adopted 
it  unanimously.  In  the  elation  of  the  hour  a  year  was  too  long 
a  time  to  await  the  happy  consummation.  Confident  that  the  Pres- 
byteries would  act  favorably  on  the  overture  to  be  sent  down  to 
them,  the  Assemblies  ordered  their  Presbyteries  to  meet  and  to 
give  a  categorical  answer,  yes  or  no.  Then  they  themselves 
agreed  to  come  together  in  Pittsburg  the  following  November, 
to  receive  the  answers  of  the  Presbyteries.  The  Assemblies 
met  in  Pittsburg  on  the  10th  of  November.  Routine  business  was 
transacted  separately.  At  10  o'clock  on  the  12th  each  Assembly 
was  to  notify  the  other  of  final  action.  I  have  told  you  the  result 
in  the  Presbyteries.  The  New  School  Assembly  left  the  Third 
church,  and  headed  by  its  moderator  marched  single  file  past  the 
First  church  where  the  other  Assembly  was  in  session.  The 
Old  School  Assembly  marched  out  of  the  church  iu  single  file 
walked  along  the  other  side  of  the  street,  and  both  bodies  par- 
aded before  the  assembled  thousands  that  lined  the  thoroughfare 
to  see  the  inspiring  spectacle.  Then  the  two  processions  faced 
each  other,  came  together  in  the  center  of  the  street,  their  mod- 
erators locked  arms  and  the  Assemblies  fell  in  line  in  double  file 
arm  in  arm,  and  proceeded  to  the  Third  church.  Then  Dr. 
Jacobus  said :  "  If  there  be  any  person  present  who  knows  of  any 
reason  just  and  sufficient  why  these  parties  may  not  be  lawfully 
united  let  him  speak,  or  ever  after  hold  his  peace."  And  Dr. 
Elliott,  who  had  been  moderator  at  the  time  of  the  disruption, 
in  1837,  said:  "I  know  of  none."  Then  a  sympathetic  spectator 
exclaimed:  "What  God  hath  joined  together  let  no  man  put 
asunder."  That  was  the  12th  of  November,  1869.  The  next  year 
was  the  first  assembly  of  the  reunited  church.  But  that  Pittsburg 
Assembly  did  more.  It  resolved  to  raise  a  memorial  fund  of  five 
millions  of  dollars  to  advance  the  work  of  our  gracious  Lord. 
And  when  the  memorial  funds  were  created  it  was  found  that  the 
church  had  responded  to  the  appeal  with  more  than  seven  mil- 
lions of  dollars. 

The  reunion  at  Columbus  was  not  marked  by  the  spectacular. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  415 

No  previous  special  session  of  the  Assembly  had  been  held  in  the 
same  city.  But  the  union  sentiment  at%  Columbus  was  all  so  per- 
vasive and  so  sacred  that  the  spectacular  would  have  been  sup- 
erfluous. 

It  was  voiced  in  the  opening  sermon  of  Dr.  Landreth,  an 
orator  of  the  massive  style,  who  made  an  impassioned  plea  for 
the  reunited  church  to  use  its  high  privilege  and  enter  the  open 
door  in  the  west  and  south. 

It  found  expression  in  the  selection  of  the  moderator,  who 
was  regarded  as  the  especial  exponent  of  Presbyterian  reunions, 
and  whose  unanimous  election  was  a  fitting  tribute  to  his  efforts 
in  this  direction. 

The  union  spirit  was  manifested  in  the  evangelistic  report,  a 
former  Cumberland  speaker  said  that  if  Dr.  Roberts  was  the 
special  exponent  of  the  formation  of  the  union,  Dr.  Calhoun,  who 
represented  the  evangelistic  committee  in  the  South,  had  done 
more  than  anyone  else  tov  cement  the  union. 

Pre-eminently  the  union  spirit  was  manifested  in  the  reports 
of  the  Boards,  and  benevolent  agencies  of  the  church  and  through- 
out the  Assembly,  an  overwhelming  feeling  came  over  us  that 
finds  expression  in  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  "How  good  and 
how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity.  It  is 
like  the  ointment,  the  precious  ointment,  that  ran  down  Aaron's 
beard."  As  a  Presbyterian  U.  S.  A.  by  birth  and  conviction,  I 
said  what  magnificent  specimens  of  consecrated  manhood  are 
these  Cumberland  recruits,  Landrith,  and  Fullerton,  and  Black, 
and  Darby,  and  Manton,  and  Hubbard,  and  the  rest.  And  me 
thinks  the  angels  of  God  must  have  rejoiced  when  the  last  moder- 
ator of  the  Cumberland  Assembly  turned  over  the  gavel  used  in 
that  church  since  1875,  bearing  this  inscription:  "This  wood 
grew  on  our  birthplace,"  and  said  pathetically  "Mr.  Moderator, 
if  you  would  tap  a  few  times  with  this  gavel  I  think  the  former 
Cumberlanders  would  come  to  order  a  little  quicker." 

Brethren  we  are  one.  And  the  splendid  thing  about  this  re- 
union is  not  only  that  it  is  so  sweetly  harmonious  wherever  it  has 
been  effected,  but  also  that  it  is  universally  looked  upon  in  the 
light  of  a  larger  responsibility  and  a  larger  ability  to  grapple 
with  the  collossal  interests  that  confront  us  as  a  church.  From 
both  branches  of  the  church  we  have  a  glorious  heritage,  and  the 
mingling  of  these  heritages  will  enable  us  to  do  vastly  more  as 
one  church  than  we  could  have  done  as  two. 

Let  me  close  in  the  language  of  the  reunion  committee  of 
1868 :  If  we  face  the  sun  our  shadows  are  behind  us.  *  *  The 
future  cheers  and  animates  us  with  brightest  prospects.  The 
voice  of  the  Son  of  God  rebukes  the  weakness  and  wickedness 


416  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

of  cliistn,  and  enjoins  the  unity  of  faith  and  love.  Hope  antici- 
pates the  time  when  every  dissension  healed  and  forgotten  by 
christian  charity,  all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  all 
.sections  of  our  common  country,  holding  the  same  standards, 
shall  he  drawn  together  by  patriotic  and  evangelical  sympathies 
in  cordial  and  indisoluble  union.  Glorious  things  are  promised 
to  the  church,  in  the  (lay  that  the  Lord  bindeth  up  the  breach  of 
bis  people  and  healeth  the  stroke  of  their  wound.  Surely  it  will 
be  for  good  and  no1  for  evil,  for  joy  and  not  sorrow,  for  strength 
and  not  weakness,  if  henceforth  our  rule  shall  be  "One  body  and 
one  Spirit,  even  as  we  are  called  in  one  hope  of  our  calling.  One 
Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  God  and  Father  of  all.  who  is 
above  all.  and  through  all.  and   in   us  all." 


PRESBYTERIAMSM— ITS  AFFINITIES 

(Delivered  at  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Springfield,  Mo., 

1908.) 

On  the  fifth  day  of  May,  1863,  Albert  Barnes  delivered  an 
address  before  the  Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  in  Philadel- 
phia, entitled  ' '  Presbyterianism  : — Its  Affinities. ' '  This  address 
is  the  best  thing  of  its  kind  that  has  come  under  my  observation 
for  a  long  time.  Delivered  before  a  body  of  highly  educated  men 
and  at  a  time  when  church  and  state  were  rent  in  twain  over  the 
issues  of  the  Sixties,  it  is  natural  that  this  address  should  be  a 
little  too  scholarly  to  be  popular,  and  that  it  should  bear  at  length 
on  some  points  long  since  antiquated.  But  its  permanent  ele- 
ments are  of  such  value  that  they  should  be  placed  within  reach 
of  the  present  generation  and  of  readers  of  ordinary  attainments. 
"There  are  reasons  why  we  are  Presbyterians.  *  *  *  *  And  there 
can  be  no  want  of  charity  towards  others,  if,  when  we  come  to- 
gether as  Presbyterians,  we  suggest  those  reasons  to  each  other." 
Because  Dr.  Barnes  has  stated  these  reasons  so  admirably  I  have 
felt  constrained  either  to  make  a  most  liberal  use  of  quotations 
from  his  address  or  else  to  rewrite  it  with  the  attempt  to  popular- 
ize it,  and  to  bring  it  down  to  date.  The  latter  alternative  seem- 
ed to  be  preferable.  I  shall  therefore  make  free  use  of  his  lan- 
guage and  thought,  popularizing  both  where  they  seem  to  be  be- 
yond the  comprehension  of  the  unlettered  reader,  omit  the  anti- 
quated, and  add  the  modern.  And  I  shall  leave  it  entirely  to  the 
judgment  of  the  reader  to  determine  which  is  Barnes  and  which 
is  Stringfield.     Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  writings  of  Al- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  417 

bert  Barnes  will  not  attribute  to  him  any  part  that  may  seem 
weak  or  trivial  and  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  redactor 
will  recognize  that  which  is  beyond  his  depth. 

According  to  the  chemists  our  universe  is  composed  of  very 
few  elementary  bodies.  The  great  variety  of  material  substances 
is  obtained  by  various  combinations  of  these  elementary  sub- 
stances. The  elementary  substances  are  seldom  found  alone  but 
usually  are  combined  with  other  substances.  Thus  when  oxygen 
and  hydrogen  meet  they  unite  in  the  proportion  of  two  parts  of 
hydrogen  to  one  part  of  oxygen  and  form  water.  Or  the  oxygen 
combines  with  nitrogen  and  a  few  other  substances  and  forms 
air.  Now  the  substances  with  which  a  given  substance  is  usually 
found  or  has  a  tendency  to  unite  with,  are  called  its  affinities. 

But  what  is  true  in  regard  to  the  elementary  principles  of 
matter,  is  also  true  of  the  principles  of  moral  science  and  relig- 
ion. Many  of  the  works  of  nature  are  little  known  except  by 
their  affinities ;  none  of  them  are  fully  understood  except  by 
those  affinities.  It  is  equally  true  that  the  teachings  of  a  church 
are  best  estimated  by  an  acquaintance  with  their  affinities.  Are 
the  principles  advocated  likely  to  be  found  where  there  is  most 
intelligence,  refinement,  purity  of  life,  freedom  of  opinion,  ele- 
vated views  of  the  dignity  of  man  and  of  the  government  of  God? 
Or,  is  there  a  natural  affinity  with  despotism,  inpurity  of  life  and, 
morals,  ignorance,  bigotry,  superstition? 

Presbyterianism  derives  its  name  from  its  system  of  govern- 
ment. It  has,  indeed,  become  so  combined  with  a  certain  form 
of  doctrine  from  a  natural  affinity  that  we  commonly  use  the 
term  not  as  referring  to  the  form  of  government  alone,  but  to 
that  form  in  combination  with  the  Calvinistic  doctrine.  So  close 
is  this  affinity,  and  so  prominent  is  the.  doctrine  that  in  the  pop- 
ular estimation  the  doctrine  is  the  main  thing ;  and  the  opposition 
to  the  church  is  arrayed  against  the  doctrine  rather  than  against 
the  form  of  government.  Considered  as  a  form  of  government 
Presbyterianism  is  ecclesiastical  Republicanism,  and  has  so  much 
in  common  with  our  Republican  institutions,  and  so  much  in 
accordance  with  just  notions  of  liberty  and  the  progress  of  the 
world,  that  it  would  seem  to  be  easy  to  commend  it  to  the  favor- 
able regard  of  mankind,  if  it  were  not  for  the  odium  excited  by 
a  misapprehension  of  the  doctrine  with  which,  in  fact,  it  is  now 
invariably  combined. 

Yet  it  is  strictly,  and  only,  in  itself  a  system  of  government. 
Theoretically  that  system  of  government  might  be  combined  with 
any  form  of  religious  doctrine  or  with  any  forms  and  ceremonies 
in  the  public  worship  of  God.  But  actually  it  has  no  affinity  for 
Arminianism,  Socinianism,  for  Baptismal  Regeneration,  or  Pur- 


4i 8  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

gatory,  for  splendid  vestments,  processions,  pilgrimages,  genu: 
flexions,  liturgys  or  the  Mass.  But  its  whole  career  in  the  world 
has  been  a  career  of  repellance  of  all  these.  And  we  judge  a  sys- 
tem by  the  things  it  repels  as  well  as  by  those  it  attracts. 

As  a  system  of  government  Presbyterianism  comprises  the 
following  cardinal  principles: 

1.  That  all  power  in  the  church  belongs  to  Christ;  or  that 
he  is  the  Supreme  Head  of  the  Church  and  that  all  power  which 
is  not  derived  from  him  is  an  usurpation. 

2.  That  power  in  the  church  resides,  under  Him,  with  the 
people,  and  belongs  to  them  as  a  brotherhood.  It  is  not  derived 
from  men  who  profess  to  be  descendants  of  the  Ap<?stles,  and  in- 
vested therefore  with  authority  over  the  church ;  it  is  hot  lodged 
with  a  clergy,  that  has  authority  to  perpetuate  their  own  order 
with  no  reference  to  the  will  of  the  church ;  it  is  not  derived  from 
the  state  as  having  any  right  to  legislate  for  the  church  as  such, 
or  to  prescribe  its  doctrines,  ceremonies  or  mode  of  worship. 

3.  A  third  material  and  essential  point  is  the  entire  equal- 
ity of  the  clergy,  or  the  fact  that  there  is  but  one  order  of  min- 
isters in  the  church.  Holding  this  doctrine,  we,  without  any  in- 
consistency, recognize  cheerfully  the  validity  of  the  ordination 
of  other  denominations,  and  regard  them  wholly  as  on  a  level 
with  us,  and  regard  ourselves  in  every  sense  as  on  a  level  with 
them. 

This  doctrine  of  the  equality  of  the  clergy  we  regard  as  one 
of  great  importance.  The  effect  of  the  opposite  view — of  a  dis- 
tinction among  the  clergy — of  different  grades  of  ministers — 
we  think  can  be  traced  far  back  in  the  history  of  the  church  by 
an  affinity  with  pomp  and  ceremony,  and  formality  in  religion ; 
an  affinity  with  worldly  aspiring  in  the  clergy,  despotic  institu- 
tions in  the  state,  and  want  of  freedom  among  the  people,  and  with 
forms  of  despotism  and  moral  darkness  which  spread  over  Eu- 
rope in  the  middle  ages.  Charles  I.  with  keen  sagacity  saw  that 
Prelacy  and  Monarchy  were  indissolubly  united,  and  sought  to 
bolster  the  former  in  order  that  it  might  be  a  prop  to  the  latter ; 
Hence  his  famous  maxim  "No  bishop,  no  King;"  meaning  and 
stating  a  great  truth,  that  "if  there  is  no  despotic  power  in  the 
church ;  there  can  be  no  despotic  power  in  the  state ;  or  if  there 
be  liberty  in  the  church  there  will  be  liberty  in  the  state." 

4.  A  fourth  material  principle  in  Presbyterianism  is,  that 
there  is  to  be  government  in  the  church.  This  idea  springs 
from  our  Calvinistic  or  doctrinal  view,  which  by  natural  affinity 
is  united  with  the  Presbyterian  mode  of  administration ;  govern- 
ment is  "the  exercise  of  authority,"  it  is  direction  or  restraint 
over  the  actions  of  men  in  communities,  societies  or  states."  It 
is  not  advice  however  wise  such  advice  may  be ;  it  is  not  counsel ; 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  419 

however  valuable  or  important  such  counsel  may  be ;  it  is  not  a 
suggestion  of  expediency,  or  an  expression  of  an  opinion  by  those 
who  are  experienced,  wise,  or  learned ;  it  is,  as  far  as  it  is  proper 
to  be  exercised,  authority.  It  is  designed  to  settle  things.  It 
implies  loyalty  and  obedience.  The  submission  which  it  demands 
is  the  submission  due  to  those  who  are  entrusted  with  authority. 
Up  to  the  point  where  it  is  legitimate,  and  is  not  an  usurpation, 
it  becomes  obligatory  on  the  conscience;  and  is  to  be  regarded 
as  a  religious  duty,  an  act  of  submission  to  God. 

We  attach  great  importance  to  this  in  the  church  as  we  do 
in  the  state.  We  believe  that  the  church  like  the  state  is  to  be 
characterized  by  order.  Our  ideas  of  government  are  that  it  is 
universal.  The  worlds  which  God  has  made,  and  over  which  he 
presides,  are  not  regulated  by  advice  but  by  law.  A  community 
is  kept  in  order,  and  made  prosperous,  not  by  good  opinions  but 
by  wise  administration  of  good  laws.  God  has  set  in  the  church 
'helps,  governments,'  as  well  as  "teachers,"  "miracles," 
"gifts  of  healing,"  and  diversities  of  tongues.    I  Cor.  xii:28. 

5.  This  government  is  a  representative  system  of  govern- 
ment. It  supposes  indeed  that  the  power  resides  with  the  peo- 
ple— the  church — and  is  to  be  exercised  by  them,  and  that  in  no 
case  is  power  to  be  exercised  which  has  not  been  conceded  by 
them.  Yet  this  power  is  not  exercised  ordinarily  by  them  as  a 
body  but  by  the  representatives  whom  they  choose  and  to  whom 
they  delegate  the  power. 

In  this  it  accords  with  the  best  ideas  of  civil  liberty.  The 
world  has  made  the  experiment  of  the  exercise  of  unrepresented, 
power  in  the  monarchical  and  despotic  forms  of  government,  on 
the  one  hand  and  of  the  strict  democratic  principle  on  the  other, 
in  the  struggles  for  freedom  and  has  oscillated  between  the  one 
and  the  other.  Tyrants  have  swayed  the  scepter  and  de- 
stroyed and  disowned  the  liberty  of  the  people.  Then  the  peo- 
ple have  arisen  in  their  might,  dethroned  monarchs  and  taken 
the  government  into  their  own  hands.  But  in  attempting  to  ex- 
ercise authority  directly  by  the  body  of  the  people  their  efforts 
have  issued  in  disorder,  anarchy,  weakness  and  failure.  These 
failures  have  paved  the  way  for  a  new  claim  of  despotism  by 
hereditary  title,  or  military  usurpation.  In  the  history  of  the 
world  no  safe  medium  has  been  found — no  system  that  would 
combine  authority  and  freedom;  that  would  constitute  a  gov- 
ernment, and  yet  not  invade  the  rights  of  the  people ;  that  would 
secure  the  best  administration  of  law ;  except  that  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  representation.  v  That  combines  authority  and  freedom, 
gives  to  government  the  sanction  of  and  makes  the  people  feel 
that  the  authority  exercised  is  their  own  authority.  Hence  the 


420  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

United  Stales  guarantees  to  every  state  in  the  Union  a  republican 
— i.  e.  a  representative — form  of  government.  In  the  church  the 
Presbyterian — or  representative  form  of  government  is  contrasted 
on  the  one  hand  with  the  Monarchical  as  represented  in  the  claim 
of  power  derived  from  Apostolical  succession;  and  on  the  other 
with  power  exercised  by  the  assembly  itself,  or  the  body  conven- 
ed for  this  purpose — that  is  from  strict  and  radical  democracy 
which  in  the  state  has  ever  been  subject  to  the  weaknesses  al- 
luded to  above. 

6.  A  sixth  principle  in  the  Presbyterian  mode  of  govern- 
ment is  that  the  power  of  government  is  limited  by  a  constitu- 
tion. A  constitution  defines  what  may  be  done;  and  it  pre- 
scribes what  shall  not  be  done  by  the  very  fact  that  the  author- 
ity to  do  a  certain  thing  is  NOT  found  there.  The  fact  that  there 
is  a  constitution  is  of  the  nature  of  a  compact  between  the  church 
and  all  who  enter  it.  It  is  a  public  pledge  that  no  power  shall  be 
exercised  which  is  not  specified  in  this  constitution ;  and  that 
no  one's  opinions,  faith,  or  conduct  shall  be  affected  in  any  way 
except  under  the  well-considered  and  clearly-defined  processes 
arranged  in  the  constitution.  An  arbitrary  sovereign  has  no 
limit  except  that  of  will  or  caprice ;  a  mob  has  no  rule  of  action, 
nor  can  any  interests  intrusted  to  it  have  a  basis  of  security.  A 
constitution  defines  and  limits  rights,  constitutes  security,  makes 
established  principles  permanent,  encourages  labor,  diffuses  con- 
tentment and  intelligence,  the  just  administration  of  law  and  pro- 
motes peace.  The  idea  of  constitutional  government  is  incor- 
porated in  Presbyterianism  more  prominently  than  in  any  other 
mode  of  church  goverment. 

And  now  let  us  notice  some  of  the  affinities  of  this  system 
of  government. 

The  first  and  most  remarkable  is  its  affinity  for  the  Cal- 
vinistic  system  of  doctrine.  In  fact  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
government  and  the  Calvinistic  system  of  doctrine  have  been  so 
intimately  associated  that  they  constitute  one  system  in  the  gen- 
eral estimation  of  men,  and  the  name  Presbyterianism  is  now 
commonly  so  used  as  to  designate  the  result  of  this  amalgama- 
tion. 

There  are  no  permanent  Arminian,  Pelagian  or  Socmian 
Presbyteries,  Synods,  General  Assemblies  on  the  earth.  There 
are  no  permanent  instances  where  these  forms  of  belief  or  un- 
belief take  on  the  Presbyterian  form.  Arminianism  combines 
freely  and  naturally  with  Methodism,  with  Prelacy,  with  the 
Papacy.  Pelagianism,  Sabellianism,  Socinianism  combine  freely 
with  Independeney.     There  was  doubtless  some  reason  why  Dr. 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  421 

Priestly  and  Dr.  Charming  were  NOT  Presbyterians ;  there  was 
a  reason  why  Calvin,  Knox,  Chalmers,  Witherspoon  WERE. 
The  reasons  may  be  satisfactorily  stated. 

(a)  Calvinism  in  doctrine  and  Presbyterianism  in  church 
government  spring  essentially  from  the  same  idea — the  idea  of 
government,  regularity,  order ;  the  idea  that  God  rules.  Cal- 
vinism, though  it  seems  to  be,  and  though  it  is  often  represented 
as  a  mere  system  of  doctrine,  having  no  valuable  practical  bear- 
ing is  in  fact  a  method  and  form  in  which  the  Divine  Power  is 
represented  as  put  forth  in  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of 
the  universe.  It  is  based  on  the  idea  that  God  rules ;  that  he  has 
a  plan ;  that  that  plan  is  stable  and  may  be  depended  upon.  It 
supposes  that  God  has  a  right  to  exercise  dominion ;  and  that 
the  exercise  of  that  right  is  for  the  well-being  of  the  universe, 
Its  essential  idea  is  that  of  authority,  regularity,  order,  law; 
and  hence  it  naturally  combines  with  that  form  of  government 
where  the  fixed  principles  of  a  constitution  prevail. 

(b)  Each  naturally  draws  to  itself  the  same  class  of  minds. 
There  is  in  the  world,  in  all  countries  and  communities  a  class 
that  characteristically  loves  order,  law,  fixed  principles  of  jus- 
tice and  liberty ;  that  aims  to  carry  fixed  principles  into  the  fam- 
ily administration,  into  the  intercourse  of  man  with  man,  into 
civil  institutions ;  that  endeavors  to  remove  government  as  far  as 
possible  from  the  sway  of  passions;  which  seeks  to  conserve  all 
that  has  been  secured  of  value  in  the  past. 

Presbyterianism  in  its  fixedness,  order,  love  or  law,  well 
represents  that  idea.  Calvinism  as  a  system  of  doctrine  begins 
with  an  eternal  plan  on  the  part  of  God,  regards  the  universe  as 
governed  by  settled  purpose  and  law  and  has  an  affinity  for  the 
same  class  of  minds. 

(c)  Each,  therefore — Presbyterianism  as  a  scheme  of  gov- 
ernment and  Calvinism  as  a  system  of  doctrine — contemplates 
the  same  RESULTS.  That  they  may  exist  separately  I  do  not 
deny.  That  the  Presbyterian  mode  of  government  has  been 
found  in  a  few  instances  originally  combined  with  other  forms 
of  doctrine,  or  that  in  some  instances  the  form  of  Presbyterian 
government  has  been  retained  after  the  churches  have  mater- 
ially departed  from  the  original  faith  which  bound  the  two  sys- 
tems together,  is  not  to  be  denied.  Nor  is  it  to  be  denied  that 
the  Calvinistic  doctrine  may  be  found  under  other  modes  of  ec- 
clesiastical government.  But  the  historical  fact  is  that  the  two 
seek  alliance  and  that  they  have  such  a  natural  affinity  as  to 
justify  the  popular  use  of  the  term  Presbyterianism  as  denoting 
a  peculiar  mode  of  church  government  combined  with  Calvin- 
istic doctrines.     Proceeding  now  with  this  idea  of  Presbyterian- 


422  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

ism  as  the  union  of  a  certain  form  of  government  with  certain 
doctrines,  notice  some  of  the  affinities  of  this  system: 

The  most  obvious  perhaps,  is  its  affinity  for  a  simple  mode 
of  worship.  Presbyterianism  historically  and  naturally  is  out 
of  tune  with  imposing  rites  and  ceremonies,  a  liturgy,  splendid 
vestments,  or  the  idea  of  grace  communicated  by  official  sanc- 
tity in  a  priesthood.  It  has  built  no  cathedrals  and  would  not 
know  what  to  do  with  them  if  it  had  them.  In  the  very  form 
of  the  Gothic  Edifice  there  is  a  manifest  incongruity  between  the 
structure  and  the  modes  of  worship  preferred  by  Presbyterians ; 
and  the  idea  which  strikes  the  mind  where  such  a  structure  is 
reared  is  that,  as  it  was  originally  adapted  to  a  mode  of  wor- 
ship materially  unlike  the  Presbyterian  view  of  the  design  of 
devotion,  so  it  will  be  forever  impossible  to  combine  the  two. 

So  deeply  has  this  principle  been  imbedded  in  the  very  na- 
ture of  Presbyterianism,  that  it  has  been  impossible  to  retain  in 
connection  with  it,  or  to  revive  permanently,  even  those  rem- 
nants of  pomp  and  show  in  the  worship  of  God  which  some  of  the 
Reformers  adopted  under  Presbyterian  organizations. 

It  is  known  that  some  of  the  Reformed  churches  with  Pres- 
byterian organization  adopted  in  a  modified  way  Liturgical  forms 
of  worship.  And  when  these  have  died  away  attempts  have  been 
made  to  revive  them.  Yet  history  demonstrates  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  repellancy  between  Presbyterianism  and  Liturgical 
forms.  It  is  not  difficult  to  account  for  this  fact.  Presbyterian- 
ism gives  such  prominence  to  the  great  doctrine  of  Justification 
of  faith,  and  guards  that  bulwark  of  the  faith  with  such  anxious 
care,  that  it  looks  with  a  jealous  eye  on  all  those  forms  and  cere- 
monies which  would  tend  to  render  this  cardinal  doctrine  ob- 
scure. 

In  the  view  of  all  Presbyterians  the  merit  of  our  salvation 
is  wholly  in  the  Redeemer — in  the  sacrifice  which  He  made  for 
mankind  on  the  Cross.  That  doctrine  is  to  stand  alone  in  the 
matter  of  man's  salvation;  nothing  else  is  to  enter  into  a  sin- 
ner's justification;  no  human  merit  can  be  urged  as  a  ground  of 
man's  acceptance  with  God. 

Some  forms  of  worship  are,  indeed  indispensable,  but  Pres- 
byterianism insists  that  they  shall  be  simple  and  dignified ;  that 
they  shall  be  such  that  the  mind  shall  not  be  in  danger  on  the 
subject;  that  they  shall  have  no  tendency  to  turn  the  mind  from 
the  doctrine  of  Justification  by  faith  ;  that  they  shall  not  en- 
courage such  a  view  of  the  sacredness  of  the  administrator  as 
that  there  shall  be  any  idea  that  he  has  power  to  forgive  sin, 
and  that  there  shall  be  no  such  view  of  the  sacraments,  as  hav- 
ing an  efficacy  derived  from  the  form  or  the  administrator,  to 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  423 

regenerate  the  soul.  The  mind  of  man  is  so  constituted  that  ela- 
borate forms  of  religion  tend  to  the  idea  of  human  merit  and 
obscure  the  doctrine  of  Justification  by  faith. 

The  next  thing  which  I  notice  in  regard  to  Presbyterianism 
it  is  affinity  for  a  certain  class  of  minds. 

The  same  thing  might  be  said  of  other  denominations  with  as 
much  truth  and  propriety. 

There  is  a  class  in  every  community  which  will  find  more 
in  accord  with  their  views  of  religion,  and  which  will  be  more 
edified  and  more  useful  in  the  Presbyterian  church  than  in  any 
other ;  I  believe  also  that  there  is  a  class  of  minds  in  every  com- 
munity which  will  find  more  that  accords  with  their  views  of 
religion,  and  with  the  structure  of  their  own  minds,  and  which 
will  be  more  happy  and  more  useful  in  the  Episcopal  church, 
in  the  Methodist  church  or  in  the  Salvation  Army  than  they 
would  be  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  No  man  who  has  any  just 
view  of  the  human  mind  can  doubt  that  men,  equally  honest, 
will  take  different  views  on  a  subject  so  important  and  so  diffi- 
cult as  religion.  These  views  are  influenced  or  moulded  by  their 
training,  their  standpoint  in  religion,  their  habits  of  life,  their 
temperaments  and  their  associations. 

Human  nature  as  it  is,  is  such,  that  harmony  and  peace  can 
be  better  promoted  by  persons  entertaining  particular  views  be- 
ing associated  in  one  organization,  than  would  be  the  case  if  they 
were  associated  with  those  of  a  different  temperament. 

It  may  be  readily  granted  that  Christianity  is  divided  into 
too  many  organizations:  that  the  unity  for  which  Christ  prayed 
can  not  be  realized  in  perfection  until  there  is  an  organic  unity 
of  the  evangelical  denominations.  But  denominationalism  is 
not  all  bad. 

Here  are  four  typical  men :  No.  1  is  moved  to  devout  medi- 
tation and  reverence  by  splendid  vestments,  elaborate  rituals  and 
display  of  authority. 

No.  2  would  have  nothing  ornate,  elaborate  or  sensuous 
come  between  him  and  a  straightforward  appeal  to  his  reason 
and  conscience ;  No.  3  is  listless  until  his  emotions  are  touched ; 
and  No.  4  is  aroused  by  the  blare  of  tambourines  and  drum.  Put 
these  four  men  in  one  organization.  If  the  principles  of  No.  1 
prevailed,  2,  3  and  4  would  grow  formal  and  spiritually  dead. 
If  the  principles  of  2  prevailed,  1,  3  and  4  would  find  them  too 
commonplace,  too  cold,  or  too  uninteresting.  If  the  principles  of 
3  or  4  prevailed,  1  and  2  would  be  repelled  or  disgusted. 

There  are  men  whose  characteristics  of  mind  and  heart  in- 
cline them  to  the  Calvinistic  view  of  religion. 

Thev  are  the  men  who  look  first  to  God ;  to  government,  to 


424  Presbyterianism  in  the  O/.arks 

order,  to  law,  to  stability.  These  men  naturally  regard  all 
things  as  the  result  of  the  carrying  out  of  a  fixed  plan.  They 
find  no  security  or  peace  in  the  idea  of  chance,  or  in  the  results 
which  would  follow  from  making  the  human  will,  human  wis- 
dom or  human  freedom  the  center  or  the  standpoint  in  the  con- 
templation of  the  universe.  Such  men,  when  their  minds  are 
turned  to  religion,  will  be  Calvinists  and  not  Arminians.  Per- 
haps it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  there  are  minds  which  sooner 
than  embrace  the  Arminian  views  of  religion  with  all  the  ap- 
peals which  Christianity  under  that  form  could  present  to  them, 
would  rather  not  embrace  religion  in  any  form,  for  them  the 
choice  is  not  between  a  Calvinistic  religion  and  an  Arminian  re- 
ligion but  between  a  Calvinistic  religion  and  no  religion  at  all. 
It  is  certain  that  Jonathan  Edwards  could  never  have  been  any- 
thing but  a  Calvinist. 

These  men  are  calm  and  sober  in  their  views ;  firm  in  prin- 
ciple ;  not  easily  swayed  by  passion ;  rigid  in  adherance  to  the 
truth ;  friendly  to  just  government,  order  and  law. 

(c)  Again.  There  are  persons  who  by  the  very  manner  of 
their  conversion  become  Calvinists,  and  who  can  never  be  any- 
thing else.  In  their  conversion  their  sense  of  sin  is  so  deep; 
their  conviction  of  the  native  obduracy  of  the  heart,  and  the 
perversion  of  the  will,  is  so  entire ;  they  are  made  so  conscious 
of  their  utter  helplessness ;  they  are  led  by  their  own  experience 
to  attach  so  significant  a  meaning  to  the  statement  that  men  are 
"dead  in  sin;"- the  manner  in  which  their  attention  was  arrest- 
ed, and  in  which  they  were  convicted  of  sin,  was  so  clearly  a 
matter  of  sovereignty — so  entirely  without  any  agency  or  pur- 
pose of  their  own.  so  absolutely  and  unequivocally  the  work  of 
God  that  they  can  never  doubt  the  doctrine  of  the  divine  agency 
in  conversion — the  doctrine  of  the  divine  purposes — the  doc- 
trine of  the  preserverance  of  the  Saints  as  constituting  the  only 
ground  of  their  hopes  that  they  will  ever  reach  eternal  life. 

(c)  Again.  Much  of  the  educated  minds  in  this  country 
and  in  other  lands,  will  be  likely  to  be  Calvinistic.  Calvinism 
builds  colleges  rather  than  cathedrals.  The  first  college  in  this 
land,  and  the  second,  and  the  third  and  the  fourth  were  founded 
by  Calvinists,  and  no  small  part  of  those  which  have  been  since 
founded  were  organized  and  controlled  by  those  of  the  same 
faith.  These  indeed  are  not  sectarian  institutions.  They  are 
not  designed  primarily  to  give  instruction  in  the  Calvinistic 
views.  But  in  the  nature  of  the  case  it  is  invitable  that  those 
views  shall  give  shape  and  form  to  the  philosophy  taught  in  those 
institutions ;  and  that  the  first  impressions  of  religion  will  be 
derived  from  those  views. 

(d)  The  historv   of  our   country   has   been    such   that   this 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  425 

class  of  minds  is  widely  deffused.  The  Puritan  mind  is  essentially 
Calvinistic.  The  civil  institutions  they  formed  have  had  an 
enduriny  influence  on  our  country.  Their  churches  were  Calvin- 
istic: their  colleges  were  based  no  less  on  the  Shorter  Catechism 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly  than  on  the  spelling  book,  Euclid 
and  Homer.  The  Puritan  mind  is  still  a  leading  mind  in  religion, 
education,  in  civil  and  military  affairs. 

The  Huguenot  mind,  one  of  the  most  noble,  liberal,  large 
warm  hearted,  and  courteous,  in  all  the  classes  of  mind  that  have 
moulded  our  institutions  is  essentially  Calvanistic,  and  naturally 
developes  itself  in  the  form  of  Presbyterianism.  The  Scotch 
mind  is  essentially  Presbyterian.     So  also  is  the  Scotch-Irish. 

These  classes  of  mind  have  some  peculiar  characteristics. 
They  are  firm,  resolute,  decided;  they  act  more  from  principle 
than  from  impulse.  They  are  friendly  to  order  and  law;  they 
are  the  friends  to  sound  learning  and  science  ;  they  will  be  reliable 
at  all  times  when  great  principles  are  at  stake,  and  they  will  not 
be  far  off  when  the  spirit  of  martyrdom  is  demanded.  In  trying 
times  that  class  of  mind  displays  a  rugged  grandeur,  it  may  ap- 
pear harsh,  rigid,  possibly  blunt,  uncourteous,  and  rough,  but  it 
regards  great  principles  as  more  important  than  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  defended.  The  question  in  regard  to  this  class 
of  minds  is  not  mainly  whether  it  shall  be  Calvanistic  or  Ar- 
minian;  not  whether  it  shall  be  Trinitarian  or  Socinian ;  not 
whether  it  shall  be  Presbyterian  or  Prelatical,  Presbyterian  or 
Methodist.  Episcopalian  or  Catholic,  it  is  whether  it  shall  be 
Christian  or  infidel,  whether  it  shall  embrace  the  principles  of 
Knox  and  Chalmers,  or  those  of  Hume  and  Karnes.  No  men  make 
better  Christians,  and  no  men  make  as  dangerous  sceptics, 
and  there  is  no  more  important  work  in  our  country  than  that 
which  seems  properly  to  pertain  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  to 
see  that  this  class  of  mind  shall  be  saved  from  infidelity,  and  shall 
be  trained  to  believe  and  embrace  the  gospel. 

Hitherto  I  have  gone  on  the  theory  that  this  class  of  mind 
exists  apart  from  any  consideration  of  theology.  Did  time  per- 
mit it  would  not  be  difficult  to  show  that  Calvinism  has  been  one 
of  the  most  potent  though  perhaps  unconscious  factors  in  the 
production  thereof. 

"The  two  great  springs  of  which  men  are  moved  are  senti- 
ment and  idea;  or,  to  use  other  terms,  feeling  and  conviction." 
"The  man  of  sentiment,  of  feeling,  is  the  man  of  instability; 
the  man  of  idea,  of  conviction,  is  the  man  of  stability;  he  can 
not  be  changed  until  his  conscience  first  be  changed.  Cal- 
vanism  produces  men  of  conviction.  It  finds  them  in  the  quag- 
mire of  sin  and  takes  them  out.  It  will  not  leave  them  dirty 
and   ignorant   and    shiftless.     It   puts    a    new    aspiration    in    the 


426  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

hearts  and  traits  of  character  thai  make  men  successful  in  the 
social x and  economic  spheres.  Men  criticise  the  church  be- 
cause it  apparently  reaches  so  few  outside  of  the  ranks  of  the 
fairly  prosperous  in  business  and  tabor;  forgetting  thai  Christi- 
anity in  general  and  the  Calvinistic  forms  thereof  in  particu- 
lar encourage  just  those  characteristics  that  make  the  laborer, 
the  artisan,  the  merchant  successful.  And  men  who  are  swayed 
by  sentiment,  whose  religion  is  largely  moulded  by  appeals  to 
the  sensuous  or  the  spectacular  complain  that  Calvinism  is  cold, 
hard,  unreasonable.  Many  years  ago  a  pioneer  minister  started 
east  to  be  treated  for  a  cancer.  In  Springfield  he  fell  among 
thieves  who  robbed  him  of  all  be  had.  News  of  this  fact  reached 
a  religious  gathering  in  another  country.  Someone  suggested: 
"Let  us  pray."  "Uncle  Billy  Orr" — that  staunch  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian  was  never  heard  to  pray  aloud,  but  he  instantly 
sprang  to  his  feet,  laid  a  $10  bill  on  the  table,  saying,  there's  my 
prayer."  Calvinism  does  not  flow  away  in  tears,  does  not  wear 
its  heart  on  its  sleeve,  does  not  slobber  over  people,  but  let  it 
never  be  said  that  a  system  of  doctrine  that  has  produced  more 
martyrs  to  Christianity  and  more  great  evangelists  than  all  other 
systems  combined  is  cold  or  unfeeling. 

The  next  thing  which  I  notice  in  regard  to  this  system  of  re- 
ligion is  its  affinity  for  the  doctrine  of  human  rights,  and  the  prin- 
ciples of  liberty.  Its  great  principle  which  lies  at  the  foundation 
of  all  our  notions  of  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man  is  stated  in  the 
twentieth  chapter  of  the  Westminster  Confession:  "God  alone  is 
Lord  of  the  conscience  and  hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and 
commandments  of  men  which  are  in  anything  contrary-  to  His 
word  or  beside  it.  in  matters  of  faith  and  worship."  "With  their 
ingrained  ideas  of  the  rights  of  man  and  their  detestation  of 
tyranny  Macaulay  says  the  Puritans  were  prostrate  in  the  dust  be- 
fore their  Maker,  but  put  their  feet  on  the  neck  of  their  king. 
The  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  are  nourished  and 
sustained  by  a  veneration  for  the  Bible,  as  a  Divine  revelation,  as 
the  source  of  law,  as  the  fountain  of  doctrine,  as  containing  a  true 
history  of  man  in  his  creation,  fall  and  redemption.  These  great 
principles  have  been  incorporated  into  all  Presbyterian  Confes- 
sions of  Faith,  and  in  no  other  branch  of  the  church  has  there 
been  a  more  stern  regard  for  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man.  and 
a  more  firm  resistance  to  tyranny  and  oppression. 

We  may  begin  at  Geneva — abused  and  slandered  Geneva — 
and  move  among  the  Huguenots,  and  pass  to  Holland,  and  recall 
the  scenes  in  England  in  the  time  of  Charles  and  in  the  Common- 
wealth, and  retrace  the  bloody  history  of  Scotland,  and  bring  to 
our  recollection  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  our  own 
country,  and  we  shall  trace  all  along  a  close  connection  between 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  427 

the  principles  which  we  hold  as  Presbyterians  and  the  spread  of 
the  doctrines  of  civil  liberty,  and  we  may  challenge  the  world  for 
a  record  of  more  honorable  struggles  in  behalf  of  freedom  and  the 
rights  of  man.  The  principle  which  we  hold  in  regard  to  the  right 
of  self-government  in  the  church,  or  of  power  emanating,  under 
God,  from  the  people,  is  a  principle  which  as  applied  to  civil  af- 
fairs constitutes  the  foundation  of  liberty  in  the  state.  The  fund- 
amental principles  that  have  made  Presbyterianism  the  historic 
champion  of  civil  and  religions  liberty,  now  place  it  in  the  van- 
guard of  those  who  are  endeavoring  to  bridge  the  chasm  said 
to  exist,  between  the  church  and  the  laboring  man  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  twentieth  century  forward  movement  in  the  evangeliza-t 
tion  of  the  world  on  the  other.  The  former  finds  a  fitting  illus- 
tration in  the  Department  of  Church  and  Labor,  conducted  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions.  The  cordiality  with 
which  labor  organizations  have  received  the  advances  of  this  de- 
partment, and  the  results  it  has  already  achieved  are  simply  mar- 
vellous and  characterize  it  as  one  of  the  most  important  undertak- 
ings of  the  church  for  a  generation  or  more.  As  to  the  latter  the 
Omaha  and  Philadelphia  conventions  in  the  interest  of  foreign 
missions  only  emphasize  the  well-known  fact  that  by  virtue  of  its 
very  being  and  principles  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  a  missionary 
society,  deeply  conscious  of  the  responsibility  imposed  by  the 
risen  Lord  on  His  church  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature. 
These  movements,  under  the  auspices  respectively  of  the  great 
Boards  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  are  more  than  fads  or 
passing  sentiments.  They  are  founded  in  the  very  constitution  of 
the  church.  They  are  the  natural,  if  not  inevitable,  expression  of 
its  life.  For  consider  our  precious  doctrines  we  hold  with  stead- 
fast tenacity  that  pledge  us  to  champion  the  rights  of  the  toiling 
masses,  and  dispel  the  spiritual  darkness  that  broods  over  a  large 
portion  of  the  habitable  world. 

(a)  The  race,  we  hold,  is  one.  "God  hath  made  of  one  blood 
all  the  nations  of  men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth.' 
This  doctrine  we  embrace  in  the  strictest  sense.  Our  faith  in  the 
Bible  is  incompatible  with  a  conception  of  man  as  made  up  of  dif- 
ferent races  of  independent  origin.  The  true  conception  of  the 
brotherhood  of  man  and  the  Fatherhood  of  God  leaps  beyond  the 
boundaries  of  social  distinctions  or  stations  in  life ;  beyond  the 
changes  of  climatic  conditions,  or  environment;  and  is  a  wonder- 
ful level er.  and  a  promoter  of  equity  and  humanity. 

(1))  Again.  As  in  the  creation,  so  in  the  fall  of  man  the 
race  is  one.  We  regard  Adam  as  the  federal  head  of  our  race, 
and  in  some  way.  whether  it  be  by  mediate  or  immediate  imputa- 
tion, his  art  involved  our  race  in  ruin.  All  his  posterity  descend- 
ing from  him  by  ordinary  generation  is  born  with  a  fallen  nature. 


428  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

with  corrupt  hearts.  That  fall  was  the  source  of  death — the  rea- 
son why  any  human  being  would  ever  die,  and  why  all  human  be- 
ings must  die.  Each  one,  no  matter  what  his  station  or  nation,  is 
a  brother  to  every  other  one  in  human  form,  alike  in  creation  and 
in  ruin. 

(c)  The  same  thing  is  true  in  the  doctrine  which  we  hold 
in  respect  to  redemption.  In  the  views  which  we  entertain  on 
that  subject  we  regard  men  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  and  all  the 
races  of  men,  as  on  a  level.  All  are  ransomed  by  the  same  blood. 
"There  is  "none  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men 
whereby  we  must  be  saved."  Christ  met  every  requirement  of 
violated  law  and  made  an  atonement  sufficient  for  all,  adapted  to 
all  and  to  be  offered  freely  to  all. 

(d)  The  same  idea  is  suggested  by  our  doctrine  of  election. 
This  is  a  cardinal  doctrine ;  a  doctrine  to  which  we  trace  all  our 
personal  hopes  of  salvation  and  all  our  expectations  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Gospel  in  the  world.  But  the  division  of  the  human 
race  which  the  doctrine  of  election  contemplates  in  reference  to 
the  church  on  earth  and  the  final  condition  of  the  race  in  the  fu- 
ture world  is  not  a  division  by  any  imagined  upper  and  lower 
strata  in  society;  it  is  not  a  division  of  geography,  climate,  na- 
tional peculiarities.  What  it  is,  we  may  not  be  able  with  our  wis* 
dom  to  determine.  We  only  know  it  is  not  this.  That  multitude 
which  no  man  can  number  is  to  be  gathered  out  of  every  nation, 
tribe  and  tongue ;  every  condition  and  station  in  life.  Man  as  he 
is  regarded  by  the  Creator  on  His  throne,  the  Redeemer  on  the 
cross,  the  Holy  Ghost  in  His  "office  work"  in  converting  and 
sanctifying  the  soul,  rises  above  all  the  distinctions  of  wealth  and 
poverty,  of  position  and  occupation,  of  intelligence  and  ignorance, 
of  civilization  and  barbarism.  "Of  a  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is 
no  respecter  of  persons :  but  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  Him, 
and  worketh  righteousness,  is  acceptable  with  Him." 

(e)  Finally  our  ideas  of  loyalty  to  Christ  enforce  us  to  de- 
fend the  weak,  to  bear  one  another's  burdens,  to  share  the  Gospel 
with  every  creature. 

The  sum  of  all  doctrines  is  to  bring  men  back  to  allegiance  to 
the  laws  and  the  government  of  our  Maker.  With  their  innate 
love  of  law  and  order,  Presbyterians  have  been  steadfast  in  their 
recognition  of  just  authoriity  in  church  and  state.  Recognizing 
Christ  as  the  Great  Head  of  the  church,  we  take  our  orders  from 
Him  and  bow  in  loving  submission  to  His  mandate  to  carry  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature.  The  tendency  of  Presbyterianism  in 
the  very  nature  of  the  case  is  to  loyalty.  Above  the  siren  songs 
that  proclaim  the  religions  of  the  non-Christian    lands  as    good 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  429 

enough  for  them  it  hears  the  majestic  voice  of  the  Son  of  God 
saying:  "Go  ye."  And  it  answers:  "'Yes,  Lord,  in  Thy  name 
we  will  go." 


PULPIT  AND  PEW  IN  PERSPECTIVE. 

(A  Home  Missionary  Address  Prepared  For  the  Spring  Meeting 

of  Ozark  Presbytery,  1909,  But  Not  Delivered  Because 

the  Writer  Was  Called  Home.) 

The  earliest  Presbyterian  ministers  in  Southwest  Missouri 
were  energetic  and  untiring  in  their  labors.  They  spent  hours  in 
the  saddle,  rode  through  forests  and  over  prairies,  preached  in 
groves,  school  houses,  private  homes,  held  camp  meetings,  organ- 
ized churches,  visited  scattered  homes,  taught  school  or  farmed. 

In  those  scattered  homes,  with  no  newspapers,  few  books  and 
few  social  functions,  they  were  the  almoners  of  good  cheer,  infor- 
mation and  spiritual  strength.  At  the  fireside  they  received  a 
royal  welcome  by  the  entire  family  and  next  morning  their  re- 
treating forms  were  watched  with  sighs  and  sadness.  The  strictly 
itinerant  character  of  ministerial  labors  continued  longer  in  the 
Cumberland  than  in  other  branches  of  the  church.  The  Old  and 
New  School  churches  had  access  to  stronger  mission  boards,  and 
when  these  bodies  united  in  1870,  the  united  church  nobly  sus- 
tained missionaries  in  fields  whose  territorial  bounds  were  reduced 
m  order  that  the  spiritual  husbandry  might  be  more  intensive. 
When  land  is  $1,25  an  acre  an  ordinary  farmer  may  attempt  to 
cultivate  a  section ;  but  when  land  is  worth  a  hundred  times  that 
amount  he  may  raise  more  on  a  few  acres.  Intensive  husbandry 
became  necessary  in  the  spiritual  sphere  because  the  country  be- 
came more  densely  populated  and  because  in  certain  directions  the 
demands  on  the  ministry  were  intensified. 

We  have  passed  through  two  eras  and  are  entering  upon  a 
third.  The  first  was  the  era  of  a  ministry  that  supported  itself 
largely  by  secular  occupations.  This  era  was  more  clearly  de- 
fined in  the  Cumberland  than  in  the  other  branches  of  the  church. 
The  second  was  the  era  of  a  ministry  sustained  very  largely  by  aid 
from  the  church  at  large  through  missionary  boards.  This  era 
was  less  clearly  defined  in  the  Cumberland  than  in  the  other 
branches  of  the  church.  The  third  is  the  era  when  the  ministry 
must  be  pnstained  largely  by  local  support.  This  era  is  dawning.  It 
has  not  fully  arrived.  It  is  retarded  by  legacies  from  both  of  the 
preceding  eras.     Hence  we  are  in  a  transition  period,  and  there 


430  Presbyterian  ism  in  the  Ozarks 

are  urgent  calls  for  readjustments  in  the  relations  between  the 

pulpit  and  the  pew.  Until  these  readjust  incuts  are  realized  the 
conglomerate  system  works  a  hardship  on  the  pulpit  and  on  the 
pew.  As  a  modest  contribution  to  this  readjustmenl  I  have  chosen 
for  the  theme  of  my  Home  Misionary  address.  '"'Pulpit  and  Pew 
In  Perspective."  A  devotional  writer  of  national  reputation  has 
writ  ten  a  little  hook  admirably  adapted  to  newly  wedded  young 
people.  Wise  counsel  is  given  under  the  twofold  division,  "The 
Husband's  Part;  The  Wife's  Part."  The  sweel  amenities  that 
have  clustered  around  the  pastoral  relation  where  pastor  and 
people,  in  mutual  love,  confidence  and  forbearance,  have  acted 
their  respective  parts  are  second  only  to  those  born  of  such 
marital  unions  as  are   made  in  the  favor  of  High  Heaven. 

Permit  me  then  to  present  this  theme  under  this  division: 

(1)  "Our  blessed  Lord  at  tirst  collected  His  church  out  of 
different  nations,  and  formed  it  into  one  body  by  the  mission  of 
men  endowed  with  miraculous  gifts  which  have1  long  since  ceased. 
The  ordinary  and  perpetual  officers  in  the  church  are  bishops  or 
pastors ;  the  representatives  of  the  people,  usually  styled  ruling 
elders ;  and  deacons.  The  pastoral  office  is  the  first  in  the  church, 
both  for  dignity  and  usefulness.  The  person  who  fills  this  office, 
hath,  in  Scripture,  obtained  different  names  expressive  of  his  va- 
rious duties.  As  he  has  the  oversight  of  the  flock  of  Christ,  he  is 
termed  bishop.  As  he  feeds  them  with  scriptural  food,  he  is 
termed  pastor.  As  he  serves  Christ  in  His  church,  he  is  termed 
minister.  As  it  is  his  duty  to  be  grave  and  prudent,  and  an  ex- 
ample to  the  flock,  and  to  govern  well  in  the  house  and  kingdom 
of  Christ,  he  is  termed  presbyter  or  elder.  As  he  is  a  messenger  of 
God,  he  is  termed  the  angel  of  the  church.  As  he  is  sent  to  declare 
the  will  of  God  to  sinners,  and  to  beseech  them  to  be  reconciled  to 
God  through  Christ,  he  is  termed  Ambassador.  And,  as  he  dis- 
penses the  manifold  grace  of  God,  and  the  ordinances  instituted 
by  Christ,  he  is  termed  steward  of  the  mysteries  of  God."  (Form 
of  Government,  Chapters  III  and  IV.) 

And  let  no  man  "take  this  honor  unto  himself,  but  he' that  is 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron."  Paul  wrote  the  Ephesians  that 
Christ  "Gave  some,  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and  some,  evan- 
gelists; and  some,  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting  of  the 
saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body 
of  Christ."  The  Revised  version  reads:  "Unto  the  work  of  min- 
istering, unto  the  building  up  of  the  body  of  Christ." 

The  apostles  were  men  who  had  seen  Christ  in  person,  who  re- 
ceived the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  by  immediate  revelation,  and 
who  were  rendered  infallible  by  the  gift  of  inspiration.  "The 
prophets  of  the  New  Testament  differed  from  the  apostles,  in  that 
their  inspiration  was  occasional,  and  therefore  their  authority  as 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  431 

teachers  subordinate."  These  were  the  men  whose  office  in  the 
church  was  temporary.  The  evangelists  were  itinerant  preachers 
or  missionaries  sent  to  preach  the  Gospel  where  it  had  not  been 
previously  known  or  at  least  where  it  was  not  firmly  established. 
The  expression  "Pastors  and  Teachers"  does  not  describe  two  dis- 
t'net  offices,  but  is  rather  a  twofold  designation  of  the  same  offi- 
cers, who  were  at  once  guides  and  instructors  of  the  people.  This 
is  the  office  which  our  form  of  government  declares  is  "first  in  the 
church  both  for  dignity  and  usefulness."  The  pioneer  ministers 
already  alluded  to  were  probably  performing  the  functions  of  the 
scriptural  evangelist  more  nearly  than  that  of  pastor.  The  mod- 
ern evangelist  is  different  from  either.  But  since  pioneer  condi- 
tions have  largely  passed  away  the  present  demand  is  for  the 
work  of  the  pastor. 

Now  apostles,  prophets,  evangelists  and  pastors  were  all 
given  to  the  church  for  a  purpose,  namely,  for  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  unto  the  work  of  ministering,  unto  the  building  up  of 
the  body  of  Christ."  The  interpretation  of  this  passage  is  doubt- 
ful. Some  hold  that  the  work  of  ministering  is  here  assigned  to 
the  church.  But  while  the  church  has  such  a  function,  I  am  in- 
clined to  the  opinion  that  the  work  of  ministering  is  that  work 
which  ministers  perform.  Dr.  Hodge  quotes  Calvin  as  saying: 
"lie  could  not  exalt  more  highly  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  than 
by  attributing  to  it  this  effect.  For  what  higher  work  can  there 
be  than  to  build  up  the  church  that  it  may  reach  its  perfection? 
They  therefore  are  insane,  who,  neglecting  this  means,  hope  to  be 
perfect  in  Christ,  as  is  the  case  with  fanatics,  who  pretend  to 
secret  revelations  of  the  Spirit;  and  the  proud  wh6  content  them- 
selves with  the  private  reading  of  the  Scripture,  and  imagine  they 
do  not  need  the  ministry  of  the  church."  To  this  Dr.  Hodge  adds : 
"If  Christ  has  appointed  the  ministry  for  the  edification  of  his 
body,  it  is  in  vain  to  expect  the  end  to  be  accomplished  in  any 
other  way. " 

Now  if  the  minister  is  to  perform  his  part  the  work  of  the 
ministry  demands  his  whole  time.  It  is  true  that  Paul  labored 
with  his  own  hands  and  in  part  at  least  supported  himself.  But 
that  was  a  temporary  expedient.  Paul  was  planting  the  Gospel  in 
a  heathen  land  and  the  home  church  was  poor  in  earthly  goods. 
Xo  one  more  strenuously  than  Paul  insists  that  he  that  preaches 
the  Gospel  should  live  of  the  Gospel.  He  wrote  the  Corinthians 
that  under  the  old  economy  the  ministers  in  the  temple  lived  off 
the  temple  offerings,  and  added:  "Even  so  hath  the  Lord  or- 
dained that  they  which  preach  the  Gospel  should  live  of  the 
Gospel."  Here  is  a  division  of  labor  divinely  ordered.  If  God 
calls  us  to  preach  the  Gospel,  He  does  not  call  us  to  secular  occu- 
pations.   The  ideal  condition  is  for  the  minister  to  live  among  the 


4.}2  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

people  lie  Berves.  But  the  present,  divided  state  of  Protestant 
Christianity  forbids  the  fast  drawing  of  parish  lines,  and  many  of 
our  churches  are  so  weak  that  several — not  always  contiguous — 
must  be  grouped.  This  has  given  rise  to  a  popular  conception  that 
where  a  minister  serves  from  two  to  four  churches  about  all  that 
is  required  is  thai  he  should  preach  on  Sunday.  And  ordinarily 
the  smaller  the  field  the  poorer  is  the  cultivation.  One  turns  to 
farming  or  merchandise  through  the  week.  Another  lives  in  the 
town  and  sometimes  justifies  the  characterization  of  being  invis- 
ible in  the  week  and  ineomprehensible  on  Sunday.  This  pleas- 
antry aside  the  need  of  our  ehurehes  is  not  for  more  pulpit  abil- 
ity so  much  as  for  more  pastoral  ability.  The  Sunday  sermons  are 
a  small  though  important  part  of  a  minister's  work.  He  is  to 
shepherd  the  flock  ;  and  if  he  does  this  effectively  he  must  know 
his  people,  and  in  personal  conversation  and  contact  he  must  warn 
the  erring,  counsel  the  perplexed,  revive  the  despondent,  awaken 
the  sleeping,  comfort  the  mourning,  instruct  the  young,  plead 
with  sinners.  The  minister  is  the  leader  in  the  moral  and  spiritual 
activities  of  the  community.  Our  people  are  leading  a  complex 
life.  Their  diversions,  their  occupations,  their  governmental  func- 
tions are  intertwined  with  their  morals  and  their  religion.  And 
the  minister  must  have  a  knowledge  of  a  multitude  of  subjects  and 
an  interest  in  whatever  touches  the  people.  Recently  two  striking 
testimonies  have  come  from  unexpected  sources.  On  Washing- 
ton's birthday  Mr.  Tafft  delivered  an  address  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  on  "The  Present  Relations  of  the  Learned  Profes- 
sions to  Political  Government."  Of  the  ministry  he  said:  "The 
first  profession  is  that  of  the  ministry.  *  *  *  During  the  ad- 
ministration of  Mr.  Roosevelt,  and  under  the  influence  of  certain 
revelations  of  business  immorality,  the  conscience  of  the  whole 
country  was  shocked  and  then  nerved  to  the  point  of  demanding 
that  a  better  order  of  affairs  be  introduced.  In  this  movement  the 
ministers  of  the  various  churches  have  recognized  the  call  upon 
them  to  assist,  and  they  have  been  heard  in  accents  much  more 
effective  than  ever  before  in  half  a  century.  The  greatest  agency 
today  in  keeping  us  advised  of  the  conditions  among  Oriental 
races  is  the  establishment  of  foreign  missions.  The  leaders  of 
these  missionary  branches  of  the  churches  are  becoming  some  of 
our  most  learned  statesmen  in  respect  to  our  proper  Oriental 
policies." 

The  other  testimony  is  from  the  commission  appointed  by 
President  Roosevelt  to  study  the  conditions  of  life  on  American 
farms.  This  commission  ""Recognizes  the  necessity  of  high  moral 
and  spiritual  ideals,  and  that  the  best  way  to  promote  such  ideals 
is  'To  build  up  the  institutions  of  religion.'  and  that  'The  whole 
people  should  stand  behind  the  rural  church  and  help  it  in  the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  433 

development'  of  such  ideals."  It  also  suggests  that  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  should  organize  rural  associations, 
saying :  ' '  There  is  apparently  no  other  way  to  grip  the  hearts 
and  lives  of  boys  and  young  men  of  the  average  country  neighbor- 
hood." Of  the  country  pastor  the  commission  says:  "He  is  the 
key  to  the  country  church  problem  *  *  *  He  must  have  a 
complete  conception  of  the  country  pastorate.  The  country  pas- 
tor must  be  a  community  leader.  He  must  know  the  rural 
problems.  He  must  have  sympathy  with  rural  ideals  and  aspira- 
tions. He  must  love  the  country.  He  must  know  country  life,  the 
difficulties  that  the  farmer  has  to  face  in  his  business,  some  of  the 
great  scientific  revelations  made  in  behalf  of  agriculture,  the 
great  industrial  forces  at  work  for  the  making  or  the  unmaking 
of  the  farmer,  the  fundamental  social  problems  of  the  life  of  the 
open  country.  Consequently  the  rural  pastor  must  have  special 
training  for  his  work.  Ministerial  colleges  and  theological  semi- 
naries should  unite  with  agricultural  colleges  in  this  preparation 
of  the  country  clergyman.  There  should  be  better  support  of  the 
clergyman.  In  many  country  districts  it  is  pitiably  small.  There 
is  little  incentive  for  a  man  to  stay  in  a  country  parish,  and  yet 
this  residence  is  just  what  must  come  about.  Perhaps  it  will  re- 
quire an  appeal  to  the  heroic  young  men,  but  Ave  must  have  more 
men  going  into  the  country  pastorates,  not  as  a  means  of  getting  a 
foothold,  but  as  a  permanent  work." 

Remember  these  are  the  utterances  not  of  a  Presbytery  or  ec- 
clesiastical body,  but  of  a  government  commission  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate rural  conditions  in  general.  What  is  said  of  the  coun- 
try applies  to  the  village.  The  pastor  must  be  a  community  leader. 
As  our  own  denomination  was  the  first  to  grapple  with  the  labor 
problem  in  an  organized  way  through  its  Department  of  Church 
and  Labor,  so  as  far  as  I  am  aware  it  is  the  first  to  undertake  the 
training  of  men  for  the  problems  of  the  rural  and  village  churches. 
At  a  nominal  cost  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  is  now  prepared  to 
furnish  a  correspondence  course  on  this  subject. 

It  is  conceded  that  where  a  man  ministers  to  one  church  only, 
whether  that  church  has  one  hundred  members  or  one  thousand 
members,  the  organizing  of  that  church,  the  supervision  of  its  va- 
rious auxiliaries,  the  directing  of  its  benevolences,  the  visiting  in 
its  homes,  and  the  ministering  to  its  spiritual  needs  requires  his 
whole  time.  But  what  if  that  hundred  members  or  tMO  hundred 
members  are  divided  into  four  distinct  churches?  The  pulpit  de- 
mands are  much  less  because  in  general  the  sermons  preached  at 
one  place  can  be  used  at  the  others.  Ordinarily  in  these  conditions 
the  pastor  has  access  to  larger  numbers  of  unconverted  persons  in 
the  aggregate — and  to  a  larger  number  of  young  people.  Organ- 
izations may  not  be  as  easily  effected  as  in  the  larger  churches, 


4.H  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

but  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  fewer  new  sermons  are  required  the 
minister  has  more  time  for  the  work  of  supervision ;  and  if  for  the 
educational  advantages  he  must  live  in  town,  he  must  remember 
that  to  make  his  work  effective  a  large  part  of  his  time  must  be 
spent  on  the  field.  Intensive  spiritual  husbandry  is  the  need  of 
the  hour.  The  filling  of  the  pulpit  on  Sunday  is  a  small  part  of 
the  minister's  work.  Our  home  mission  fields  in  Southwest  ^Mis- 
souri have  had  a  great  deal  of  preaching  and  a  great  lack  of  culti- 
vation, and  many  of  them  are  in  a  languishing  condition.  To  de- 
velop them  requires  the  best  that  is  in  the  best  of  men.  Someone 
has  called  that  parable  of  the  unprofitable  servant  the  parable  of 
extra  service.  The  minister  who  is  afraid  that  he  will  do  more 
than  he  is  paid  for  is  doing  less  than  he  is  paid  for.  If  he  is  in 
the  service  of  God  at  all  he  must  do  his  best  whether  his  temporal 
remuneration  is  large  or  small. 

Again.  The  work  of  the  ministry  demands  the  utmost  for- 
bearance. The  minister  deals  with  all  classes  of  men.  Like  his 
Heavenly  Father  he  must  be  kind  to  the  unthankful  and  the  un- 
kind. Time  forbids  me  to  dwell  on  this  phase  of  the  subject.  I 
must  pass  to  the  pew's  part. 

(2  The  church  has  been  saying  it  for  years,  and  now  the 
government  commission  has  said  it:  "There  should  be  a  better 
support  for  the  clergyman."  When  a. man  is  called  to  a  pastorata 
the  call  states  that  the  congregation  believes  that  his  ministra- 
tions in  tlic  Gospel  will  be  profitable  to  their  spiritual  interests, 
and  promises  all  proper  support,  encouragement  and  obedience  in 
the  Lord.  And  then  continues:  "And  that  you  may  be  free  from 
wordly  cares  and  avocations,  we  hereby  promise  and  oblige  our- 
elves  to  pay  you  the  sum  of,"  etc.  Very  frequently  persons  say: 
"I  have  to  work  hard  for  a  living.  The  minister  is  no  better 
than  I  am."  Or:  "I  am  hard  pressed.  Why  shouldn't  he  be?" 
When  tlic  call  says  a  minister  is  to  be  free  from  worldly  cares  it 
means  that  be  is  to  be  kept  free  from  the  considerations  of  making 
money  in  order  that  he  may  devote  his  strength  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  The  minister  is  none  too  good  for  manual  toil.  But  if 
he  attends  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  he  has  not  time  for  it.  You 
■'  ■  no1  free  from  worldly  cares.  A  large  part  of  your  time  and 
strength  are  spent  in  making  a  living.  And  it  may  be  you  have  a 
ha^d  struggle  '1  that.  P>ut  suppose  you  are  worn  out  physically, 
you  are  depressed  in  spirits  because  you  do  not  know  how  you 
are  £oing  to  pay  your  bills  when  they  become  due,  your  daily 
duties  leave  little  time  for  study.  In  this  weary  and  depressed 
condition  do  you  think  you  could  do  the  work  of  the  ministry0 

A  minister  wrote  to  a  large  number  of  people  to  find  out  what 
kind  of  a  sermon  they  liked  best,  and  the  majority  replied  they 
liked  a   comforting  sermon.     Wearied  with  the    burdens  of    the 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  435 

week  you  want  something  to  cheer  you  up  when  you  come  into 
the  sanctuary.  The  minister  must  reach  all  classes  of  people.  If 
he  does  not  please  the  young  the  congregation  has  no  more  use 
for  him,  but  the  young  expect  him  to  be  bright  and  cheerful.  lie 
must  mingle  with  the  well-to-do,  and  therefore  he  2iiust  be  better 
dressed  than  the  man  whose  duties  are  on  the  farm  or  in  the  shop, 
lie  must  enter  the  homes  of  the  poor,  and  how  many  times  he 
si^lis  for  the  ability  to  leave  a  little  gift.  He  must  go  to  the 
house  of  mourning  and  scatter  sunshine.  The  work  of  the  min- 
istry requires  that  a  man  shall  be  at  .his  best.  And  if  he  is  poorly 
supported,  depressed  in  spirit  or  compelled  to  turn  to  secular 
avocations  tor  a  living  he  cannot  give  you  his  best.  When  I  first 
moved  to  Springfield  my  family  required  medical  attention.  We 
called  in  an  able  physician.  I  went  to  settle  my  bill  and  he  said: 
"Mr.  Stringfield,  my  father  told  me  never  to  charge' a  minister. 
If  a  man  is  making  a  living  off  of  the  Gospel  I  never  charge  him; 
but  if  he  is  trying  to  preach  and  doing  something  else  I  charge 
him.  That  physician  is  not  a  member  of  the  church,  but  he  recog- 
nizes the  fact  that  the  work  of  the  ministry  is  worthy  of  a  man's 
whole  time  and  strength.  And  when  I  contemplate  this  work  I 
feel  like  exclaiming  with  Paul:  "Who  is  sufficient?"  When  a 
minister  gives  his  life  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  he  is  entitled  to 
an  adequate  support  from  ordination  to  the  grave,  and  his  added 
usefulness  will  amply  repay  the  church  that  sees  that  he  is  free 
from  worldly  care.  He  has  trials  enough  without  this.  He  must 
bear  the  burdens  of  his  people.  He  must  mingle  with  them  in  joy's 
and  sorrows,  in  adversity  and  in  prosperity.  He  must  go  from 
the  hymenal  altar  to  the  house  of  mourning.  He  must  try  to  be 
helpful  to  the  giddy  devotee  of  society  and  to  the  pious  saint  hun- 
gering for  the  bread  of  life.  He  must  deal  with  the  erring,  the 
unforgiving,  the  worldly.  Yes,  he  has  burdens  enough  without 
having  to  wonder  where  he  will  get  the  money  to  pay  his  grocer's 
bill.  And  when  he  stands  before  you  in  the  pulpit,  or  when  he 
comes  into  your  home  you  want  him  to  be  at  his  best.  He  is  God's 
ambassador  to  you.  If  your  neighbor  does  not  like  you,  you  stay 
away  from  him.  If  you  do  not  like  the  minister  he  must  visit  you 
anyway.  If  you  are  low-spirited  or  depressed,  or  shabbily  clothed, 
you  are  apt  to  stay  away  from  church  and  you  seek  the  com- 
panionship of  congenial  spirits  only.  The  minister  must  be  in  his 
place  whatever  his  burdens  may  be,  and  he  must  mingle  with  all 
classes  of  men  however  much  his  burdened  heart  may  cry  for  only 
those  who  understand.  In  times  of  deepest  perplexity  you  can  go 
to  him  as  a  spiritual  adviser;  but  the  pastor  has  no  pastor  to  coun- 
sel him.  For  these  reasons  the  church  promises  to  keep  him  free 
from  worldly  care. 

There  is  another  direction  in  which  the  co-operation  of  the 


43t»  Presbyterianism  in  thk  Ozarks 

pew  must  be  secured.  The  layman  is  again  coming  to  his  own  in 
religious  activities.  The  layman's  missionary  movement  and  the 
Presbyterian  Brotherhood  are  an  expression  of  the  fact  that  busi- 
ness and  professional  men  are  not  content  to  relegate  the  exten- 
sion of  the  kingdom  to  ministers,  women  and  children.  Charles 
Stelzle  has  characterized  this  ;is  "A  man's  job.'*  The  held  of 
operation  in  the  local  chnrch  yields  a  rich  harvest  for  added  cul- 
tivation.   But  I  pass  this  to  dwell  upon  another  work. 

In  the  early  church  the  word  preach  was  not  as  technical  as 
it  now  is.  The  apostles  and  their  successors  encouraged  what  we 
would  style  lay  preaching.  When  Saul  made  havoc  of  the  church, 
"entering  into  every  house  and  hailing  men  and  women,  com- 
mitted them  to  prison  *  *  *  they  that  were  scattered  abroad 
went  everywhere  preaching  the  Word."  Then  the  sacred  his- 
torian describes  the  preaching  of  Deacon  Philip,  which  was  blessed 
of  God  to  such  an  extent  that  the  Apostles  Peter  and  John  were 
sent  from  Jerusalem  to  give  it  apostolic  sanction  and  impart  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  inference  is  that  lay  members — men 
and  women  preached — proclaimed  the  glad  tidings  of  life  and  sal- 
vation. The  historian  of  the  Cumberland  Church  says  "Lay 
evangelists  were  a  part  of  the  original  machinery  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church.  At  first  these  were  selected  and  com- 
missioned by  the  Presbytery,  choice  being  made  of  men  who  had 
shown  some  fitness  for  the  work.  Of  late  years  this  custom  has 
fallen  into  desuetude."  (See  McDonald's  History,  1888.  Page 
627.) 

In  the  history  I  am  writing  I  have  endeavored  to  show  that 
laymen  were  more  active  in  the  Presbytery  thirty-five  years  ago 
than  in  recent  years.  The  rush  of  modern  business  has  doubtless 
had  something  to  do  with  the  change.  But  the  men  of  the  church 
at  large  are  again  heeding  the  Master's  call.  In  1893  the  Presby- 
terian Church  adopted  Constitutional  Rule  No.  1.  which  provides 
for  the  setting  apart  of  local  evangelists.  Our  experience  with 
this  rule  has  not  been  reassuring  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  those 
thus  set  apart  have  regarded  this  as  a  short  cut  into  the  ministry. 
In  my  judgment  the  purport  of  this  rule  is  not  to  help  middle- 
aged  or  old  men  into  the  ministry — men  who  perhaps  have  not 
made  a  success  in  other  callings — but  it  is  to  invite  and  direct  the 
co-operation  of  men  in  industrial,  mercantile  and  professional  ca- 
reers who.  being  successful  in  their  chosen  callings  and  yet  en- 
dowed with  aptness  to  teach,  wish  to  give  a  part  of  their  time  to 
the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom.  A  Christian  business 
man.  lawyer,  physician,  teacher,  may  continue  in  his  chosen  call- 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  437 

ing  and  yet  under  authority  of  the  Presbytery — set  apart  as  a 
local  evangelist — might  go  out  to  vacant  churches  and  neglected 
communities  and  tell  the  story  of  redeeming  love,  and  encourage 
the  people  to  secure  the  stated  means  of  grace.  The  Home  Mis- 
sion committee  and  the  pastor-at-large  could  use  a  number  of  such 
men  to  good  advantage.  And  in  order  that  the  people  might  not 
lose  the  proper  conception  of  their  duty  to  support  the  Gospel, 
such  local  evangelists  with  other  and  adequate  means  of  support 
could  readily  receive  the  offerings  of  the  church  or  community  for 
missionary  purposes.  Thus  would  men  go  everywhere  preaching 
the  Gospel.  The  Gideons  do  this  in  the  cities.  Brotherhood  men 
are  buttonholing  men  on  the  streets  and  in  places  of  business. 
Some  must  go  to  the  outlying  regions.  And  our  larger  cities  of 
Southwest  Missouri,  with  their  superior  organizations  and  advan- 
tages for  training,  must  furnish  the  men.  When  the  country 
churches  were  prominent  we  had  a  large  number  of  candidates 
for  the  ministry.  The  decline  of  the  country  church  was  attended 
by  the  decline  in  the  number  of  candidates.  Therefore  the  whole 
people  should  stand  behind  the  rural  and  village  churches  and 
help  in  their  development. 

Conditions  are  such  in  Southwest  Missouri  that  we  stand  in 
need  of  ministers  and  Christian  workers  trained  on  the  field.  Our 
women  have  taken  hold  of  the  project  of  Bible  women  for  the 
Ozarks  with  enthusiasm.  The  thought  is  the  offspring  of  their 
own  brains  and  hearts  and  they  stand  ready  to  nuture  this  child 
of  their  love. 

Some  of  us  have  had  dreams  and  seen  visions  of  a  Bible  train- 
ing institution  for  the  Ozarks  that  shall  embrace  many  of  the  fea- 
tures of  Winona  with  special  adaptation  to  the  regions  remote 
from  the  railroads.  We  have  thought  that  it  would  broaden  and 
develope  the  ideas  and  ideals  of  the  people,  that  it  would  enable  us 
to  secure  more  permanent  pastors  and  to  qualify  them  for  the  par- 
ticular work  they  have  to  do  when  secured.  Such  an  institution 
strong  and  spiritual  would  be  an  incalculable  blessing  to  this  part 
of  Missouri,  to  Arkansas,  to  the  Southwest.  From  it  would  flow 
streams  of  influence  that  would  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God. 

In  his  little  book,  entitled  "The  Growing  Church,"  Dr.  Mc- 
Afee tells  us  of  a  visit  to  Independence  Hall,  where  was  framed 
the  first  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  where  he  saw  the 
high-backed  chair  in  which  Washington  sat.  Then  he  quotes  this 
incident  narrated  by  John  Fiske :  "After  the  momentous  act  of 
signing  the  new  Constitution,  which  was  to  be  presented  to  the 
country  for  adoption,  the  room  grew  very  still.    The  men  who  had 


438  Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks 

spent  months  in  thought  and  dehate,  knew  that  their  task  was 
done  and  were  weighted  with  the  meaning  of  it.  Washington  s;it 
with  bowed  head,  his  faee  buried  in  His  bands.  On  the  baek  of  his 
chair,  in  which  he  had  presided  over  the  many  sessions  of  the  con- 
vention, was  emblazoned  a  half  sun,  brilliant  with  gilded  rays. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  then  eighty-one  years  of  age,  pointed  to  the 
emblem  and  said:  "As  I  have  been  sitting  here  all  these  weeks,  I 
have  often  wondered  whether  yonder  sun  was  rising  or  setting. 
Now  I  know  that  it  is  a  rising  sun.'  " 

The  Presbytery  of  Ozark  faces  a  rising  sun.  The  union  of  the 
two  branches  of  the  church  meant  larger  opportunities  and  larger 
responsibilities.  "Quit  you  like  men."  Rise  to  the  occasion  and 
meet  the  needs  of  a  great  country.  Send  ambassadors  of  Christ 
into  the  remote  corners  and  then  shall  we  break  forth  into  sing- 
ing: "How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that 
bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace ;  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation ;  that  saith  unto  Zion, 
Thy  God  reigneth." 

For  seventeen  years  I  have  been  a  careful  observer  of  relig- 
ious conditions  in  Presbyterian  churches  in  Southwest  Missouri. 
I  have  seen  churches  become  spiritually  anemic  or  settle  down  to 
a  condition  of  chronic  debility  most  grievous  to  behold.  Two 
malignant  symptoms  accompany  or  occasion  this  fatal  malady. 
First  there  is  a  widespread  conviction  on  the  part  of  sessions  and 
churches  that  when  a  minister  leaves  a  church  it  is  a  matter  of 
small  moment  as  to  whether  another  pastor  is  secured  at  once  or 
not.  In  fact  there  is  a  feeling  that  the  church  is  not  just  ready 
for  another  man,  that  it  has  been  strained  a  little  to  support  the 
last  pastor  and  needs  a  rest,  or  that  it  will  gather  strength  by  in- 
action. The  pen  of  a  far  readier  scribe  than  I  cannot  depict  the 
sufferings  and  the  losses  and  the  weakness  occasioned  by  this 
suicidal  policy.  Some  of  our  churches  have  a  chronic  habit  of 
keeping  a  minister  six  months,  a  year,  two  years,  or — what  they 
regard  as  a  long  time — three  years,  and  then  staying  vacant  three 
months,  six  months,  a  year;  and  practically  each  pastorate  begins 
under  conditions  more  unfavorable  than  the  former.  The  other 
tendency  is  to  employ  a  minister  because  he  will  work  for  a  small 
salary.  "The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire."  God's  servants  are 
entitled  to  an  adequate  support,  and  that  session  and  church  that 
enter  the  mart  with  a  bartering  spirit  that  seeks  to  get  the  best 
and  give  the  least  is  pursuing  a  policy  that  will  inevitably  bring 
leanness  to  their  souls.  Elders  of  the  churches  of  this  Presbytery, 
you  are  entrusted  with  the  responsible  task  of  seeing  that  the 
flocks  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers  are 


Presbyterianism  in  the  Ozarks  439 

supplied  with  an  imdershepherd.  And  as  those  who  must  give  an 
account  to  their  Lord,  see  to  it  that  the  Master  will  not  find  it 
necessary  to  feel  a  thrill  of  compassion  for  people  who  faint  and 
are  scattered  abroad  as  sheep  that  have  no  shepherd.  To  the  moles 
and  bats,  with  your  lethargy  and  your  parsimony  and  catch, 
the  rythmic  thrill  of  Paul's  impassioned  rhetoric:  "How  then 
shall  they  call  on  Him  in  whom  they  have  not  believed?  And 
how  shall  they  believe  in  Him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard? 
And  how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher?  And  how  shall  they 
preach  except  they  be  sent?" 


INDEX 


CHURCHES 

Asbury  178 

Ash    Grove 160 

Avilla — see  White   Oak 

Bellview    125 

Bethany    (Joplin) 180 

Bethel    (Ark.) 179 

Bethel,  Polk  County 155 

Bolivar   ±4h 

Breckenridge    144 

Brookline    338 

Buffalo     154 

Bnrnham   180 

Calvary   136 

Carterville    181 

Carthage   145 

Center    166 

Center   Creek 334 

Conway    155 

Crane   '. 181 

Cumberland   Union — see   Brookline 

Ebenezer    131 

Elrodado    Springs 172 

Eureka    Springs 169 

Evans    

Fair    Play 178 

Fordland    178 

Gasconade    129 

Golden    City 171 

Grace    _ 160 

Granby    154 

Grand  Prairie — see   Willard 
Greenfield    (Cumberland) 338 

Harris    179 

Harrison 179 

Hermitage    164 

Hermon    (Polk   Co.)  118 

Hermon   (see  Lehigh) 

Hoberg    182 

Home    172 

Irwin    172 

Jonesboro    179 

Joplin    First 161 

Kickapoo— see   Mount   Comfort 

Lamar    156 

Lehigh    170 

Licking    130 


Linn  Creek 163 

(Little    Osage) 117 

Lock  wood   164 

Locust   Grove — see  Westminster 

Logan    

Lone  Elm   178 

Madison     168 

Maple   Grove   

Mammoth    Springs 179 

<  Marmiton)     118 

Mena    179 

Minersville    156 

Moffett    Ave 180 

Monett     176 

Mountain    Grove   

Mount   Bethel    164 

Mount    Comfort    335 

Mount  Moriah    (see  Madison) 

Mount    Olivet 179 

Mount    Vernon    175 

Mount  Vernon  Cumberland 339 

Mount  Zion  119 

New   Salem — Neosho   336 

New  Providence  337 

Neosho    150 

Newtonia   and  Ritchey 158 

Nevada    156 

North    Heights 181 

North   Prairie    124 

North    Spring   River 144 

Ozark    177 

Ozark   Prairie    135 

Panther   Creek    (see   Conway) 

Pleasant  Hope   336 

Peace  Valley  130" 

Pleasant   Valley   (see  Lockwood) 
Pomme  de  Terre  see  Pleasant  Hope 

Preston    158 

Prosperity    156 

Ravenden    Springs   179 

Red   Hill   130 

Ridge   Station   179 

Saint    Anne    130 

Salem    159 

Seneca   177 

Shiloh   160 

Shiloh — see  Pleasant  Hope 

South   Joplin    178 

Springfield    First    Cumberland 339 

Springfield  Second  173 

Spring  River  337 


INDEX 


Stockton         157 

Sum  in  it     168 

Trace  Valley  179 

Trinity     168 

Drbana — see  Buffalo 

Virgil    City    161 

Waldensian    165 

.Washburn's  Prairie  336 

Walnut   Grove  129 

Weaubleau   123 

Webb   City  166 

Wont  worth    182 

Westminster    155 

Westminster,  Carthage   177 

West  Plains  174 

White  Oak  153 

White  Eock  130 

Willard    169 

MINISTERS  AND  LAYMEN 

Allen,   D.  N 243 

Allin,    Thomas   H. •. 216 

Aller,  Absalom  T 261 

Appleby,    David    

Atkisson,   Robert  B 223 

Baon,   John    T 363 

Baldwin,    Frank    M 221 

Banker,  Willis   G 226 

Bickwell,   George  E 216 

Bishop,   William    Frost 214 

Bonner,    George    M 245 

Boving,    Charles    B 259 

Bright,   J.   H 262 

Bradshaw,    Christopher 188 

Briol,    P.    P 243 

Bristol,    N.    D , 242 

Brown,    Anselm    B 264 

Browne,    George    355 

Brown,   John    M 194 

Buchanan,    G 370 

Buchanan,    A 370 

Buffa,   C.    A 242 

Burks,    C.   W 262 

Caldwell,  G.  M 259 

Carbonnell,    T '. 260 

Campbell,   D.    K alb 

Campbell,    Henry   M 234 

Carson,    John    L 

Chestnut,    N 269 

Clagett,    T.    A v 267 

Cleland,   Thomas  BT 228 


Clippinger    245 

Clymer,    G.    H 258 

Crawford,   J.    W 252 

Cravens,   W.   A ., 217 

Crozier,  W.  N 266 

Cude,    O.    C 272 

Curdy,    E.    A zrjfc 

Curtis,   John    T 244 

Danforth,   J.   F 364 

Davis,   Geo.   F 218 

Deane,    Amos   H 265 

DeWitt,  M.   B 376 

Dillard    373 

Dinsmore,  John  M 230 

Dodge,   N.   B 184 

Downing,    N.    H 210 

Dunlap,    C.    H 211 

Duty,   G.    H 236 

Dysart,   W.    P 377 

Easterday,   T.   R 224 

Elliott,    Austin    210 

Kltzhotz,  J.   W 264 

Ely,   R.   W 230 

Emerson,    D 190 

Emmons,    C.    A 265 

Farrand,    Fountaine    R 222 

Faust,  A.  E 272 

Fisher,    J.    B 246 

Fly,   J.   B 357 

Fowler,    Clarence 242 

Fry    225 

Foy,  John  225 

Fullerton,    B.    P 359 

Fulton,    W.    R 203 

Garrett,  W.   J 352 

Gass,    John    R 234 

Gehrett,   J.    A 248 

Gerhard,  J.   A 233 

Gibson,    D.    E 373 

Giffen,    John    206 

Gilbert.   H.  M 267 

Glanville,    J.    W 270 

Glascock,   Squire   212 

Gorton,   W.    R 

GraP-g,    B.    H 243 

Griffon,    S.    W 262 

Grundy,  W.  F 245 

Hackett,   W.   L 266 

Halbert,    E.    M 197 

Hamilton,    E.    A 223 

Hamilton,   C.   J 261 

Handy.   I.   W.   K 188 


INDEX 


Hanna,    D.    C 233 

Hanna,    J.    C 236 

Harbour,    G.    F 360 

Hembree,    C.    C 221 

Hemingway,   G.   H 243 

Hepburn,    H 265 

Hewitt,   J.   G 264 

Hibbard,   A.   H 230 

Hicks,    W.    C 361 

Hickock,   F.   M 237 

Hill,   Hiram   212 

Hillhouse,    E 377 

Hoffman,    B 217 

Holland,   C.   B 374 

Hubbert,    J.   M 376 

Hudiburg,   J.   W 272 

Hughes,   J.   1 236 

Hunter,    J.    M 222 

Irwin,  S.  M 207 

Jarvis,  E.  E.  L 259 

Johnson,    H.    B 236 

Johnston,    T.    M 371 

Jones,    A 206 

Keach,   E.    P 225 

Keer,   T 377 

Kinnaird,    R.    L 271 

Knawer,    F.    G 249 

Knight,    Wm.    S 213 

Knott,   J.   W 260 

Knox,    J.    G •. 375 

Knotter,   J.   G 247 

Lafferty,   J 226 

Laird,    F.    H 221 

Lander,    D.    L 215 

Lea,   B 222 

Leard,    Asa    253 

Lee,   John   R 

Lewis,   H 226 

Leyda,    J.    E 232 

Little,    Henry    262 

Logan,    J.    B : 350 

Logan,    B.    F 269 

Lowry,  "W.   S 228 

McCanse,  ,W 378 

McClung,  John   244 

McCune,   H..    T 377 

McElroy,    W.    R 258 

McElwee,  W.   B 221 

McFarland,   John   200 

McFarland,    Mary    . 

McKinney,  G.  W '. 264 

McMahan,    C.    C 


McMahon,    R.    T 226 

McMillan,   J 194 

Mann,    A.    M 258 

Marks,    J.    J 217 

Martin,  J.   F 230 

Martin,  S.  N.  D 210 

Mathes,    E.    E 267 

Matthews,    L.    J 198 

Mermarott,  C 247 

Messmer,    Wm.    S 197 

Miller,    A.    L 223 

Miller,  W.   L 210 

Mitchelmore,    C.    H 271 

Mooney,    Warren    245 

Montgomery,    J.    D 371 

Moore,    A 370 

Moore,   G 374 

Moore,   W.    G 252 

Morrison,   L.  R 191 

Newell,   Geo.   W 218 

Nixon,    J.    H 208 

Noel,  E.  P 185 

Nugent,    E.    J 260 

Olandt,    C 268 

Orr,   Jennie    

Orr,    Paul 

Orr,    William 

Paige,  J.   A 207 

Pentzer,    V 199 

Perkins,    W.    T 372 

Pettigrew,    S 225 

Pinkerton,    J.    W 207 

Powelson,    B.    F 208 

Prater,    M.    A 376 

Putnam,   D 218 

Reaser,   J.    G 227 

Renik,    E.    L 246 

Renshaw,   G.    A.   M 185 

Renshaw,   Wm 223 

Requa,  W.   C 

Rice,    E.    J 272 

Rice.   T.   0 213 

Ricketts,    J.    B 187 

Rinker,    G.    W 368 

Ritchev,    M.    H 365 

Ryland,   B 188 

Salmon,    C 217 

Schell,  A.  C 

Scherer,    J.    F 269 

Schmalhorst,   Wm 249 

Scott,   H.   0 249 

Scroggs,    W.    L 


1 


INDEX 


Sentz,    J.    E 244 

Sefton,   J.    C 247 

Shane,    L.    H 26b 

Shive,    B.    M 269 

Shephard,    J.    C 226 

Shepperd,  J.  F 270 

Bheppard,,  Henry 

Sheppard,  Mrs.  H 

Sims,    R.   J 353 

Smith,  P.   S 267 

Smith,  W.    A 260 

Smith,    W.    H 188 

Solomon,    J.    P 215 

Spinning,    C.    P 249 

Sproule,    G.   B 267 

Stephenson,    R.    S 233 

Stewart,    C.    A 259 

Stuart,    B.    L 269 

Stone,    Sidney   258 

Stringfield,    E.    E 237 

Sydenstricker,    S.    V 269 

Tanner,   A.  M 225 

Taylor,  A.  G 189 


Taylor,   Huston   271 

Templeton,   W.   C 251 

Thompson,    G.    T 224 

Thompson,   Wm.  E 

Trett,    John    R 267 

Tucker,    H.   A 211 

Vander,    Lippe    Wm... 242 

Vawter,    J.    B 213 

Vincent,    C 245 

WVltv.   J.   B '. 247 

Worth,    John    E 211 

Whimster,   D.   B 266 

Wiley,   S '. 272 

Williamson,    G.    H 219 

Wilson,    John    272 

Wilson,  J.  H 2L3 

Woods,    H.    W 217 

Wright,   W.    J 206 

Wylie,   A.    N 271 

Young,     A.     A 378 

Young,   A.   A 340 

Young,    J.    N 218 


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